In situ studies of the oxidation of HCl over RuO2 model catalysts: Stability and reactivity

Structure–activity experiments were performed for the HCl oxidation reaction (Deacon-like process) over RuO2 model catalysts – RuO2(1 1 0) and RuO2(1 0 0) – applying in situ surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD) combined with on-line mass spectrometry. The studied model catalysts turned out to be long-term stable under reaction conditions with gas feed ratios p(HCl):p(O2) ranging from 1:4 to 4:1 in the mbar pressure regime and temperatures as high as 685 K. Even pure HCl exposure in the mbar regime was not able to reduce RuO2 below 600 K; above 650 K chemical reduction of the oxide sets in. Under strongly oxidizing reaction conditions, the (surface) oxides grow slowly in thickness. On-line reactivity experiments of both types of model catalysts in a batch reactor yield a mean turn-over frequency (TOF) of 0.6 Cl2 molecules per second and active site for the HCl oxidation at 650 K and initial partial pressures of p(HCl) = 2 mbar and p(O2) = 0.5 mbar. The HCl oxidation over RuO2 is therefore considered to be structure insensitive.