Iron‑Co Catalyst Turns Toxic Chlorine into Clean Gas

A new iron material can break stubborn chlorine bonds in a harmful chemical called 1, 2‑dichloroethane. The trick is to attach tiny cobalt sites that hold electrons close together. These sites make the iron work faster and cleaner, so it cuts the chlorine off without producing too much hydrogen gas or over‑reducing the resulting ethylene. Researchers built the catalyst by mixing iron with a cobalt compound that forms four‑ring structures. The design keeps all cobalt atoms busy, giving the catalyst a dechlorination speed 2 to 40 times higher than earlier iron systems. Tests show that the cobalt sites lower the energy needed to split the chlorine bond, while also creating small pockets where protons are scarce. This reduces unwanted hydrogen gas and keeps ethylene from turning into methane.Spectral measurements and computer models confirm that the electron‑rich cobalt lowers the reaction barrier. The result is a material that uses electrons 144 times more efficiently and produces ethylene 65 times more selectively than plain iron. The catalyst was tested in a flow system and after 100 days of use in real groundwater. It consistently lowered the toxic chemical below legal limits, showing that it stays active and selective over long periods. This work offers a practical way to clean up polluted water by turning dangerous halogenated compounds into harmless gases, using a simple iron‑cobalt combination that works well in real conditions.