Novel Catalysts for Hydrogenolysis of Organochlorine Pollutants

Hydrogenolysis is an energy efficient, zero emission method for the detoxification of hazardous chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) wastes. In CHC hydrogenolysis, the chlorinated hydrocarbon is reacted with hydrogen to produce a hydrocarbon and an inorganic acid (HC1). In the Phase I project, TDA Research, Inc. (TDA), demonstrated a new type of catalyst with high activity for hydrodechlorination of aliphatic and aromatic CHCs. The catalysts are significantly lower in cost, more resistant to deactivation by the HC1 byproduct, and have rates similar to or higher than supported platinum group metal catalysts. Furthermore, unlike the platinum group catalysts, their catalytic activity can be fully regenerated.