Ru-based catalysts for catalytic
combustion of high-toxicity Cl-containing
volatile organic compounds are inclined to produce Cl2 instead
of ideal HCl due to the Deacon reaction. We herein reported that the
three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) WO
x
-supported RuP nanocatalyst greatly improved HCl selectivity
(at 400 °C, increased from 66.0% over Ru/3DOM WO
x
to 96.4% over RuP/3DOM WO
x
) and reduced chlorine-containing byproducts for 1,2-dichloroethane
(1,2-DCE) oxidation. P-doping enhanced the number of structural hydroxyl
groups and Brønsted acid sites. The isotopic 1,2-DCE temperature-programmed
desorption experiment in the presence of H2
18O indicated the generation of a new active oxygen species 16O18O that participated in the reaction. Generally, P-doping
and H2O introduction could promote the exchange reaction
between Cl and hydroxyl groups, rather than oxygen defects, and then
benefit the production of HCl and reduce the generation of other chlorine
species or Cl2, via the reaction processes of C2H3Cl → alcohol → aldehyde → carboxylic
acids.