Hydrodechlorination of 1,1,1-trichloroethane over silica-supported palladium catalyst

Abstract Hydrodechlorination of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (CH 3 CCl 3 ) over silica-supported palladium catalyst was studied in a conventional flow reactor at atmospheric pressure. The main product was CH 3 CH 3 and its selectivity was in the range of 75–90% regardless of the reaction temperatures and the composition of reaction mixture. The rest was mainly occupied by partially hydrodechlorinated products, CH 3 CHCl 2 and CH 3 CH 2 Cl, and a coupling product, n -C 4 H 10 . The contact time dependence of product distribution showed that the all products were formed by parallel reactions. A reaction mechanism is proposed, which involves rapid dechlorination of CH 3 CCl 3 into ethylidyne species.