Hydrodechlorination of dichloromethane, trichloroethane, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene over a sulfided Ni/Mo–γ-alumina catalyst

The hydrodechlorination reactions of dichloromethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene were examined over a commercial Ni/Mo–γ-alumina catalyst in a packed-bed reactor. This preliminary study was focused in the influence of the catalyst pre-treatment (sulfidation), temperature, pressure and nature of the solvent over the reaction yield. The evolution of the catalytic activity was also examined. As an overall, results indicate that catalytic hydrodechlorination might be a suitable method for the destruction of the above mentioned chlorinated compounds, since conversions to non-chlorinated organics were found to be close to 100%, operating at 100 bar and 350°C over a sulfided Ni/Mo–γ-alumina catalyst. However, the catalyst resistance to deactivation must be enhanced.