Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes as a Support for Platinum Catalysts for the Hydrodechlorination of Carbon Tetrachloride and Dichlorodifluoromethane

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as a support for the deposition of highly dispersed platinum. After characterization by several physical techniques, the catalyst was studied in reactions for: hydrodechlorination of carbon tetrachloride and the hydrodechlorination of dichlorodifluoromethane. For the first reaction Pt/MWCNTs were very effective catalysts in terms of both the overall activity and the selectivity to CHCl3; both quantities appeared high and stable. For CCl2F2 hydrodechlorination the catalyst was rather moderate, although very stable, activity and product selectivities were established at a constant level in a relatively short time-on-stream. The MWCNTs-supported Pt particles do not undergo great changes during the reactions, i.e. neither substantial metal sintering occurred nor extensive surface carbonization/chloriding took place.