DECOMPOSITION OF DICHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE ON BPO4 CATALYST

Catalytic decomposition of dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon 12) was carried out on BPO4 catalyst, and the durability of this catalyst against inorganic fluorines, the reaction products, was investigated. The decomposition of Freon 12 proceeded on the acid sites of the BPO4, although their acid strength was not very large. Although the BPO4 catalyst had the highest durability among the catalysts ever examined, it was also deactivated during prolonged use. The analysis by ESCA (electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis) indicated that inorganic fluorines attacked the boron to produce volatile boron fluorides, which were eliminated from this catalyst during the reaction. CaO absorbed inorganic chlorines and fluorines. Thus the efficiency of the BPO4-catalyzed decomposition of Freon 12 was improved by the combined use of CaO which protected the BPO4 catalyst from poisoning by inorganic fluorines.