Low-temperature catalytic degradation of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons over bimetallic Ce-Zr/UiO-66 catalysts

It is of great significance to develop the low-temperature catalysts for the reduction in emission of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) from the industrial thermal processes. In this work, the bimetallic Ce-Zr/UiO-66 catalysts were synthesized by a solvothermal method to degrade CAHs. Powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses showed that cerium was successfully incorporated into the lattice of Zr/UiO-66 without destroying the structure of metal–organic frameworks. The activities of Ce-Zr/UiO-66 catalysts for CAHs degradation varied with the concentration of cerium. Ce0.2Zr0.8/UiO-66 with the highest surface area (1502 m2 g−1) presented the highest efficiency (>85%) for hexachlorobenzene degradation at low heating temperature (100–150 °C) with less formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. Appropriate amount of water (5 wt%) and nitrogen atmosphere were beneficial to improve degradation efficiency. The degradation products proved that hydrodechlorination and oxidation of CAHs both occurred on the catalysts.