Enhancement of the catalytic hydrodechlorination of tetrachloroethylene in methanol at mild conditions by water addition

The dechlorination of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) over carbon-supported palladium catalyst (Pd/C) in methanol (MeOH) at mild conditions was enhanced through the addition of water to the reaction mixture. The dechlorination of PCE was accelerated by increasing the amount of water in the mixture from 0% to 50%, and beyond which the reaction slowed down, however. The presence of water in the mixture enhanced the adsorption of PCE onto the Pd/C but compromised the solubility of H₂ gas in the mixture. It was also noted that the selectivity of the HDC reaction was improved with the increase in the amount of water in the mixture as the formation of trichloroethylene (TCE) was completely eliminated when the HDC was carried out in mixtures with 50% water or more. Other chlorinated intermediates were not detected in all the reactions.