Electrophilic chlorination of dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran over composite copper and iron chlorides and oxides in combustion flue gas

Abstract

Dibenzo-p-dioxin (DD) and dibenzofuran (DF) chlorination mediated by Cu and Fe chlorides can make a direct contribution to the formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in combustion flue gas. In this study, a kind of composite Cu and Fe chlorides and oxides (CuFe9O9.5Cl10) was prepared by impregnating oxides with HCl solution to imitate the coexistence status of Cu and Fe species in combustion flue gas. Composite CuFe9O9.5Cl10 was active in promoting the electrophilic chlorination of DD/DF at 150–300 °C, with the highest activity at 200 °C. DD/DF chlorination could occur under inert atmosphere, and 5% O2 atmosphere was most favorable for DD/DF chlorination. Electrophilic chlorination of DD/DF primarily favored at 2,3,7,8 positions. Hybridization of Cu and Fe chlorides and oxides not only decreased the starting temperature and activation energy of DD/DF chlorination, but also induced a synergistic effect for accelerating the chlorination of DD/DF. The measured activities of composite CuFe9O9.5Cl10 for promoting the chlorination of DD/DF were near to those of composite Cu chloride and oxide (CuO0.2Cl1.6), whereas 2 orders of magnitude higher than those of composite Fe chloride and oxide (FeO0.3Cl2.4). Comparison of PCDD/F congener distribution patterns indicated that DD/DF chlorination should be a main source of Cl1−3DFs and Cl1−2DDs in combustion flue gases.