Hydrochlorination of acetylene using supported phosphorus-doped Cu-based catalysts

Phosphorus-doped copper catalysts supported on spherical activated carbon (SAC) were prepared using an incipient wetness impregnation technique. The catalysts were characterized by low-temperature N-2 adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), N2O pulse titration method and thermogravimetric (TG) technologies. The results indicate that the phosphorus-doped Cu-based catalysts exhibit both high activity and good stability. The amount of phosphorus dopant has a significant effect on the catalytic activity of acetylene hydrochlorination and the optimal molar ratio of Cu/P is 2.5. The phosphorus doping facilitates the dispersion of copper species, enhances the interaction between metal and support, and restrains the growth of copper species during acetylene hydrochlorination. These results suggest that this high-activity, good-stability and low-cost catalyst has great potential in industrial applications.