Catalytic hydrodechlorination of dichloromethane in the presence of traces of chloroform and tetrachloroethylene

The gas phase dichloromethane hydrodechlorination was studied in the absence and in the presence of traces of chloroform and tetrachloroethylene over 0.3–0.7 wt.% Pd supported on commercial alumina or sol–gel titania. Turnover frequencies (TOFs), rate constants, reaction orders and activation energies were determined. Catalysts with the higher palladium loadings on both supports were much more active. A decreased activity was observed when traces of chloroform or tetrachloroethylene were added to the feed stream. However, the deactivation effect was lower over alumina-supported catalysts. Selected catalysts were characterized by chemical analysis, BET, chemisorption, TGA and TPR.