OXIDATION OF HYDROGEN BROMIDE

摘要

This invention provides a process for forming elemental bromine. The process comprises bringing feeds of a gas comprising hydrogen bromide and a gas comprising molecular oxygen into contact with a catalyst comprising cerium oxide and/or cerium bromide on an inorganic oxide support. The process is characterized in that the catalyst contains cerium in an amount of about 25 wt% to about 75 wt%, expressed as cerium oxide, relative to the total weight of the catalyst, and that the feeds are at a temperature of about 200°C or below during process initiation, with the proviso that when the feeds are at a temperature of about 100°C or below, the feeds are anhydrous during process initiation.