Development of a Heterogeneous Non-Mercury Catalyst for Acetylene Hydrochlorination

Abstract

Due to the toxicity of mercury catalysts, a non-mercury heterogeneous catalyst for acetylene hydrochlorination has been widely investigated. In this review, we introduce the development of Au-based catalysts, Ru-based catalysts, other metal catalysts and a carbon nitride catalyst. The effect of the promoter and the carbon support property on the catalytic performance of the AuCl 3 catalyst is discussed in detail and the potential application of other catalysts is also reviewed on the basis of experimental and theoretical studies. At present, it is predicted that an Au-based catalyst may be the optimal candidate catalyst for industrial application in the production of polyvinyl chloride from calcium carbide, but other catalysts should still be further investigated to improve their catalytic performance and their cost advantages.

Nitrogen-doped Carbon Derived from ZIF-8 as a High-performance Metal-free Catalyst for Acetylene Hydrochlorination

“…In developing countries with abundant coal reserves, acetylene hydrochlorination is the preferred manufacturing process, using HgCl 2 supported on activated carbon as the catalyst. However, the catalyst is environmentally toxic with relatively short lifetimes because the HgCl 2 is apt to sublime during reaction1. Recently, about 140 countries accepted “The Minamata Convention on Mercury” and promised to reduce and eventually abolish the use of mercury by 20202.…”

Hydrochlorination of Acetylene Catalyzed by an Activated Carbon-Supported Ammonium Hexachlororuthenate Complex

“…Moreover, the selectivity to VCM of (NH 4 ) 2 RuCl 6 /AC is slightly higher than that of the RuCl 3 /AC. Thus, the (NH 4 ) 2 RuCl 6 /AC catalyst shows higher catalytic activity and stability compared to the monometallic RuCl 3 /AC catalyst for acetylene hydrochlorination reaction.…”

“…In China, VCM is commonly manufactured through the acetylene hydrochlorination reaction catalyzed by the activated carbon-supported mercuric chloride catalyst (HgCl 2 /AC), which is due to the national characteristic of abundant coal sources and a relative lack of oil [1,2]. However, HgCl 2 is a kind of poisonous and volatile compound, damaging the environment and human health.…”

Alternative solvent to aqua regia to activate Au/AC catalysts for the hydrochlorination of acetylene

“…Among the numerous metal chlorides [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] and inorganic catalytic materials such as nitrogen-doped carbon [26][27][28], AC-supported g-C 3 N 4 [29], C-doped boron nitride fullerene [30], and 13X zeolite [31], AC-supported AuCl 3 catalysts are considered the most promising materials for acetylene hydrochlorination [32][33][34]. Compared with HgCl 2 for acetylene hydrochlorination, AC-supported AuCl 3 catalysts significantly improve the catalytic activity.…”