Hydrochlorination of Acetylene Catalyzed by an Activated Carbon-Supported Ammonium Hexachlororuthenate Complex

Ammonium hexachlororuthenate ((NH4)(2)RuCl6) complex was used as a catalyst precursor and coconut activated carbon (AC) was used as the support in the preparation process of the Ru-based catalyst. (NH4)(2)RuCl6/AC catalyst was prepared via an incipient wetness impregnation method and assessed in an acetylene hydrochlorination reaction. Meanwhile, the (NH4)(2)RuCl6/AC catalyst was analyzed with low-temperature N-2 adsorption/desorption, thermogravimetry (TG), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) techniques. Catalytic performance test results show that the (NH4)(2)RuCl6/AC catalyst exhibits a superior catalytic activity with the highest acetylene conversion of 90.5% under the conditions of 170 degrees C and an acetylene gas hourly space velocity of 180 h(-1). The characterization results illustrate that the presence of the NH4+ cation can inhibit coke deposition as well as the agglomeration of ruthenium particles, and it can also enhance the adsorption ability for reactant HCl, hence improving the catalytic activity and stability.