Liquid-phase dechlorination of chlorobenzenes over Pd-doped CoB amorphous catalysts

Pd-doped CoB amorphous (PdCoB) samples were prepared by two different methods and used for the reductive dechlorination of chlorobenzenes. XRD and TEM analyses show that amorphous PdCoB catalyst prepared by precipitation–reduction possesses high dispersion with the average size of 8 nm. BET area is 45 m 2 /g, appreciably higher than that of metal promoting or undropped CoB catalysts reported in literature. High stable activity for hydrodechlorination of monochlorobenzene in aqueous solution at room temperature is observed, which is related to high dispersion of amorphous catalyst and the interaction between Pd, Co and B. • PdCoB amorphous alloy samples were prepared by precipitation-reduction method. • PdCoB has high dispersion with average particle size of 8 nm and specific surface area of 45 m 2 /g. • PdCoB can convert efficiently mono-, di- and tri-chlorobenzene into benzene. • High stable activity is related to highly dispersed amorphous alloy structure. • PdCoB catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction liquor using an external permanent magnet.