Catalytic hydroprocessing of chlorobenzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene

The hydrodechlorination reactions of chlorobenzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene on a NiMo/γAl2O3 catalyst were examined in a differential microflow reactor. The NiMo catalyst had high activity and selectivity for dechlorination; no hydrogenation of the aromatic ring was detected. The dechlorination reactions were examined at temperatures ranging from 275 to 375°C. In this temperature range the rates of adsorption and surface reaction are comparable and neither controls the overall reaction rate. A kinetic model, incorporating adsorption, desorption and surface reaction rates, has been used to model the data.