Removal of chlorinated organic compounds from water by catalytic dehydrohalogenation

A study on the dehydrochlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE) with H-2, by using palladium-on-carbon catalysts, is reported. The dehydrohalogenation reaction was performed under mild conditions either on TCE in water solution or on TCE preadsorbed on the carbon-supported catalyst. The results of this latter method suggest the use of palladium-on-carbon as the bifunctional material: for the adsorption of chlorinated compounds from water and their subsequent catalytic dehydrohalogenation. These environmentally friendly processes for TCE disposal have been evaluated in both, batch and continuous experiments. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.