Catalytic decomposition of trichloroethylene over Pt-/Ni-catalyst under microwave heating

Abstract Microwave (MW)-activated catalytic reactor system was studied and the results were compared with that of a conventional system based on the thermal activation method. Trichloroethylene (TCE) was decomposed under various MW-powers supply. Results showed that there is an optimum film thickness that was loaded on supports in MW heating system. The threshold may be within 1–3 μm. Lower temperature cannot activate the catalyst, while higher temperature results in carbon deposition and catalyst deactivation. This means that the dechlorination reaction needs to fix an optimum film MW-power supply in order to avoid the deposition of carbon on the surface of the active phase. MW-activated system is also worth compensating the conventional system in VOCs decomposition reaction.