Silver nanoparticles catalyzed electrochemical hydrodechlorination of dichloromethane to methane in N,N-Dimethylformamide using water as hydrogen donor

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were modified on Ag electrode in situ using the electrochemical redox method. The electrochemical hydrodechlorination (EHDC) performance of Ag NPs in N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) for a representative chlorinated volatile organic compound, dichloromethane (DCM), was studied. The results revealed that a large number of Ag NPs (similar to 7 nm) were successfully deposited on the surface of Ag electrode. Be benefit to Nano effect, Ag NPs exhibited higher EHDC catalytic activity than bulk Ag and inhibited H-2 evolution. Under the catalysis of Ag NPs, the dechlorination of two Cl atoms on DCM was changed from synchronous dechlorination to asynchronous dechlorination. The EHDC efficiency of DCM in the three DMFs ranked from high to low as follows: weakly alkaline > Neutral > Weakly acidic. DCM at concentrations of 10-150 mM can be hydrodechlorinated to methane with >= 90% yield and >= 35% current efficiency.

Automated summary

In this study, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were modified on an Ag electrode using the electrochemical redox method, and their electrochemical hydrodechlorination (EHDC) performance for dichloromethane (DCM) was investigated. The Ag NPs exhibited higher EHDC catalytic activity compared to bulk Ag, and changed the dechlorination mechanism of DCM. The alkalinity of the solvent had a significant impact on the EHDC efficiency, and DCM at concentrations of 10-150 mM could be efficiently converted to methane.