Catalytic dechlorination of monochlorobenzene with a new type of nanoscale Ni(B)/Fe(B) bimetallic catalytic reductant

A unique type of nanoscale Ni(B)/Fe(B) bimetallic catalytic reductant was prepared and used for dechlorination of monochlorobenzene (MCB). The sample Ni(B)/Fe(B) was synthesized by an electroless plating method, in which nanoscale Ni(B) was deposited on the surface of nanoscale Fe(B) synthesized by chemical reduction. The results suggest that the nanoscale Ni(B)/Fe(B) bimetallic catalytic reductant has higher dechlorination. efficiency than Ni/Fe(B) catalytic reductant prepared by replacing Fe(B) with Ni2+ in aqueous solution. The Ni content was found to be an important factor in catalytic dechlorination, with the dechlorination rate increasing with Ni content. The electroless plating method improve the efficiency of the Ni2+ in the solution. Dechlorination takes place with the existence of nanoscale Ni(B)/Fe(B) bimetallic catalytic reductant via a pseudo-first-order reaction. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.