Catalytic Oxidation of Dichloromethane, Chloroform, and Their Binary Mixtures over a Platinum Alumina Catalyst

The complete catalytic oxidation of dichloromethane, chloroform, and their binary mixtures was examined over a 3% Pt/[kappa]-[delta] Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] catalyst at temperature between 300 and 400 C using a fixed bed catalytic reactor. The oxidation of chloroform and dichloromethane as pure compounds was nonlinear in the concentration of chloromethane and zeroth order in the concentration of oxygen. HCl, formed during the oxidation of each chloromethane, decreased the reaction rate. Kinetic rate expressions were developed to described the oxidation of dichloromethane and chloroform as pure compounds. These expressions were derived by assuming that the reaction occurred via adsorption and decomposition of the chloromethane into an oxygen covered platinum surface, with the reaction being inhibited by the presence of HCl. From the results of the pure compound studies, reaction rate expressions were developed to describe the oxidation of dichloromethane/chloroform mixtures. The resulting reaction rate expressions accurately predicted the catalyst's performance during the oxidation of dichloromethane/chloroform mixtures over a wide range of conditions.