Synergy of Ru and Nb=O species over rationally engineered Ru-NbO_x/Al₂O₃ for efficacious deep 1,2-dichloroethane destruction

Suppressing toxic polychlorinated byproducts is crucial for environmentally friendly purification of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs), and the synergistic active oxygen utilization and Cl desorption is a promising strategy to achieve this aim. Herein, a Ru-NbO_x/Al₂O₃ catalyst was rationally developed for 1,2-dichloroethane oxidation, featuring Ru-O sites for molecular adsorption and oxidation and Nb=O sites for oxygen transport and Cl desorption. The introduction of NbO_x promotes the adsorption of active oxygen on Ru species (4.3 times higher than Ru/Al₂O₃) and the accumulation of electrons into O₂ (Ru → O and Nb → O), accelerating the process of 1,2-DCE → CdbndC → − CHO → − COOH → CO₂ and avoiding the generation of C₂Cl₄, 1,1,2-C₂H₃Cl₃, CHCl₃, and CH₂Cl₂ byproducts. This study provides critical insights into the synergistic activation of surface oxygen species and deep oxidation of intermediates for CVOC-friendly elimination.