Deactivation of red mud and modified red mud used as catalyst for the hydrodechlorination of tetrachloroethylene

Abstract

In this work, the deactivation of sulfided red mud and sulfided catalysts based on red mud was studied for the hydrodechlorination of tetrachloroethylene. Activity curves were obtained in a fixed bed reactor at 350°C, 100 bar and 0.8 Nl/min of hydrogen. Samples of fresh and used catalysts were characterised by different techniques: Morphology and surface concentration by Scanning Electron Microscopy, textural properties by nitrogen adsorption and crystallographic phases by X-ray Diffraction. Concentration of coke precursors was measured by Thermogravimetry, and acidity of fresh catalysts was evaluated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry of samples soaked in butylamine