Using solar and ultraviolet light to degrade PCBs in sand and transformer oils

The present study describes the effect of the operating variables in the sensitized solar photolysis of sandy sediments contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in alkaline isopropanol. PCBs were almost completely removed in two weeks with stoichiometric release of chloride and biphenyl (BP)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2004-11, Vol.57 (7), p.645-654
Main Authors: Manzano, M.A., Perales, J.A., Sales, D., Quiroga, J.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetone - chemistry
Applied sciences
Aroclor 1242
Decontamination. Miscellaneous
Degradation byproducts
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
Geologic Sediments - analysis
Industrial Oils - analysis
Kinetic
Kinetics
Photodechlorination
Photolysis - radiation effects
Pollution
Pollution, environment geology
Polychlorinated Biphenyls - chemistry
Soil and sediments pollution
Sunlight
Ultraviolet Rays
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Summary:The present study describes the effect of the operating variables in the sensitized solar photolysis of sandy sediments contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in alkaline isopropanol. PCBs were almost completely removed in two weeks with stoichiometric release of chloride and biphenyl (BP) by a mechanism of reductive dechlorination. The concentration of the sensitizer (acetone) was the variable found to have most influence on the process. Under the same conditions, only partial dechlorination of the PCBs (34%) was observed in dielectric fluids without generating biphenyl to any appreciable extent. Direct photolysis (ultraviolet light at 254 nm) of dielectric oils dissolved in alkaline isopropanol lead to 92% removal of PCBs in 60 min. The observed mechanism was again that of reductive dechlorination, with stoichiometric release of chloride, and the accumulation of biphenyl, quaterphenyl and condensation products of biphenyl with isopropanol.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.07.014