Surface species structure of deactivated catalyst for dehydrochlorination of trichloroethane

ABSTRACT

Catalytic splitting method was expected to replace saponification method in industry to produce vinylidene chloride from trichloroethane, but catalyst deactivation had become the main factor hindering its industrial application. There were many speculations based on theory about the reasons for catalyst deactivation, but there was barely any analysis of the surface substance composition of deactivated catalysts. A systematic and scientific study of the composition of deactivating substances on the surface of deactivated catalysts would contribute to further research on the causes of deactivation. Several characterizations and computing methods were combined to analyze the structure of the deactivation species on the catalyst surface. The total number of rings calculated for the extracted species was approximately 11. The number of cycloalkanes and aromatic rings was 5 and 7, respectively, and the carbon fraction of cycloalkanes was 0.38. The ratio of unsubstituted hydrogen to carbon atoms was 0.42. The results show that the molecular formula of the deactivation species on the catalyst surface was C_37.72H_31.51Cl_15.85, which was a multi-cyclic mixed component mainly composed of aromatic hydrocarbons and aliphatic hydrocarbons.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• 1, 1, 2-trichloroethane
• dehydrochlorination
• vinylidene chloride
• catalyst deactivation
• molecular structure

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No.2017YFB0306601): Adapting to the key technologies of national VI clean diesel production.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China [2017YFB0306601].

Notes on contributors

Xiang Ge

Xiang Ge is currently pusuing his PhD degree in Chemical Engineering field at East China University of Science and Technology. He obtained his bachelor degree from Beijing University of Science and Technology. His research interests are development and application of environmentally friendly catalysts.

Haitao Shen

Haitao Shen is currently working as associate researcher in East China University of Science and Technology. He has obtained his PhD degree from East China University of Science and Technology. He has teaching and research experience of more than ten years. His research interests are mainly in development and application of green catalysts.

Jigang Zhao

Jigang Zhao is currently working as professor in East China University of Science and Technology. He has obtained his PhD degree from East China University of Science and Technology. He has teaching and research experience of more than ten years. His research interests are mainly in clean and high value utilization of low value resources.

Shiyong Wu

Shiying Wu is currently working as professor in East China University of Science and Technology. He has obtained his PhD degree from East China University of Science and Technology. He has teaching and research experience of more than ten years. His research interests are mainly in gasification process and equipment technology of coal, biomass, petroleum coke and other solid fuels.