We have hypothesized that hydrogen gas intercalated in
a palladium lattice is the powerful reducing agent that
reductively dechlorinates chlorinated organic compounds
that are adsorbed on the surface of palladized electrodes.
We have shown that dechlorination of 4-chlorophenol
to
phenol occurs rapidly on palladized carbon cloth or pal
ladized graphite electrodes. The reactions on the
palladized
carbon cloth and graphite depend on the adsorption of
the chlorinated organic compound on the carbon surface and
the reaction with hydrogen at the palladium/carbon
interface. Palladium was much more effective in
promoting
the dechlorination reaction than platinum, probably
because
of its ability to intercalate hydrogen in its lattice.
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