Copper species in CuCIz/3c-AI203 catalyst for ethylene oxychlorination

CuCI2 on 7-alumina, the base catalyst for oxychlorination reactions, has been investigated by several techniques as a function of Cu loading, sample aging and heating. The results point out the formation of a surface Cu aluminate species and a highly dispersed CuCI2. The latter slowly hydrolyzes under aging, but CuCI2 is restored under heating and is the active species in oxychlorination as demonstrated by activity tests.