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Optimization of copper chloride based catalysts for ethylene oxyhydrochlorination
Author(s) -
Arcoya Adolfo,
Cortes Antonio,
Seoane Xose L.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450600111
Subject(s) - ethylene , catalysis , praseodymium , chemistry , copper , chloride , thermogravimetric analysis , atmospheric temperature range , inorganic chemistry , atmospheric pressure , reaction rate constant , nuclear chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , kinetics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , oceanography , quantum mechanics , geology
In this work we have studied the effect of adding Li, Na or K chloride to CuCl 2 supported on α‐Al 2 O 3 , on its catalytic activity for the oxyhydrochlorination of ethylene to dichloroethane in a fixed bed reactor, at 573 K and atmospheric pressure. Both NaCl and KCl show a strong promoting effect. For the case of KCl, this effect has been further examined for a wide range of concentrations and a fixed amount of CuCl 2 supported on either α‐Al 2 O 3 , γ‐Al 2 O 3 or SiO 2 gel. The catalytic and thermogravimetric results obtained indicate that KCl is very effective on the overall rate, even at low concentrations, particularly because it increases considerably the rate of reoxidation of the reduced form of the catalyst. In the case of the γ‐Al 2 O 3 series, the promoting effect is only moderate. Ethylene oxyhydrochlorination data for a series of α‐Al 2 O 3 supported catalysts containing a constant K + /Cu 2+ atomic ratio and increasing total amount of KCl + CuCl 2 are shown. The activity curve shows a maximum for about 18 wt % total active phase. Finally, the influence of Ce, Nd and Pr chlorides on the activity of CuCl 2 + KCl supported on α‐Al 2 O 3 is also shown. In the case of Pr, the entire range of Pr 3+ /Cu 2+ atomic ratios has been examined. The results indicate that the rare earths, especially praseodymium, also have an additional positive effect on activity.