High Selectivity to HCl for the Catalytic Removal of 1,2-Dichloroethane Over RuP/3DOM WOx: Insights into the Effects of P-Doping and H2O Introduction

Ru-based catalysts for catalytic combustion of high-toxicity Cl-containing volatile organic compounds are inclined to produce Cl 2 instead of ideal HCl due to the Deacon reaction. We herein reported that the three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) WO x -supported RuP nanocatalyst greatly improved HCl selectivity (at 400 °C, increased from 66.0% over Ru/3DOM WO x to 96.4% over RuP/3DOM WO x ) and reduced chlorine-containing byproducts for 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) oxidation. P-doping enhanced the number of structural hydroxyl groups and Brønsted acid sites. The isotopic 1,2-DCE temperature-programmed desorption experiment in the presence of H 2 18 O indicated the generation of a new active oxygen species 16 O 18 O that participated in the reaction. Generally, P-doping and H 2 O introduction could promote the exchange reaction between Cl and hydroxyl groups, rather than oxygen defects, and then benefit the production of HCl and reduce the generation of other chlorine species or Cl 2, via the reaction processes of C 2 H 3 Cl → alcohol → aldehyde → carboxylic acids.