Phosgene synthesis catalysis: the influence of small quantities of bromine in the chlorine feedstream

Rossi, G. E., Winfield, J. M., Meyer, N., Jones, D. H., Carr, R. H. and Lennon, D. (2021) Phosgene synthesis catalysis: the influence of small quantities of bromine in the chlorine feedstream. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 60(8), pp. 3363-3373. (doi: 10.1021/acs.iecr.1c00088) (PMCID:PMC8025734)

Abstract

The effect of relatively low concentrations of Br2(g) in the Cl2(g) feedstock for phosgene synthesis catalysis via the reaction of CO(g) and Cl2(g) over activated carbon (Donau Supersorbon K40) is explored. Under the stated reaction conditions and in the absence of a catalyst, BrCl(g) forms from the reaction of Cl2(g) and Br2(g). Phosgene synthesis over the catalyst at 323 K is investigated for Br2(g):Cl2(g) molar flow ratios in the range 0–1.52% (0–15,190 ppm) and shows enhanced rates of phosgene production. Maximum phosgene production is observed at a Br2(g):Cl2(g) molar flow ratio of 1.52% (15,190 ppm), which corresponds to an enhancement in the rate of phosgene production of ∼227% with respect to the phosgene flow rate observed in the absence of an incident bromine co-feed. A reaction model is proposed to account for the experimental observables, where BrCl(g) is highlighted as a significant intermediate. Specifically, enhanced rates of phosgene production are associated with the dissociative adsorption of BrCl(g) that indirectly increases the pool of Cl(ad) available for reaction.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Winfield, Professor John and Rossi, Giovanni and Lennon, Professor David
• Authors: Rossi, G. E., Winfield, J. M., Meyer, N., Jones, D. H., Carr, R. H., and Lennon, D.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 0888-5885
• ISSN (Online): 1520-5045
• Published Online: 18 February 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 60(8):3363–3373
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
190235		Nanostructured Substrates for Cell and Tissue Engineering	David Cumming	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	KTA EP/H500138/1	ENG - Electronics & Nanoscale Engineering