Comparison of different precious metals in activated carbon-supported catalysts for the gas-phase hydrodechlorination of chloromethanes

► Pd/C, Pt/C, Rh/C and Ru/C were active in the HDC of MCM, DCM and TCM. ► The catalysts show significant differences in the activity and selectivity to reaction products. ► They are related to the different electronic structure and oxidation state of metals. ► Different reaction pathways were found depending on the catalyst and the starting CM.