Eco-efficient catalytic hydrodechlorination of carbon tetrachloride in aqueous cyclodextrin solutions

An eco-efficient process of catalytic hydrodechlorination of carbon tetrachloride into methane and chloride salts has been developed in aqueous basic medium at room temperature. The organic pollutants are trapped in water by cyclodextrins (CDs) via the formation of inclusion complexes and dechlorinated by a supported heterogeneous palladium catalyst. Catalytic investigations demonstrate that CDs act as efficient CCl4 solubilizers and, much more interesting, as protective molecules against side reactions.