Photoinduced decomposition of trichloroethylene in soil components
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
The photoinduced decomposition of trichloroethylene adsorbed on Ca-montmorillonite by long-wavelength UV irradiation has been studied in a quartz tube open to air or through which air or oxygen is passed. Solid-sample and liquid-solution NMR techniques were used to identify apparent products or intermediates of the photodecomposition. Dichloroacetic acid was identified as a major organic product/intermediate; substantial amounts of pentachloroethane and trichloroacetic acid were also identified. The formation of CO{sub 2} was characterized quantitatively by wet chemical analysis. About 40% and 57%, respectively, of the total carbon of trichloroethylene was converted to carbon dioxide in air and O{sub 2} environments over a period of 16 days. Phosgene and HCl were also detected. The photodecomposition of trichloroethylene adsorbed on whole soil, on Zn{sup 2+}-exchanged and Cu{sup 2+}-exchanged montmorillonites, on kaolinite, and on silica gel was also examined in less detail; qualitatively, the conversion of trichloroethylene to dichloroacetic acid in a 48-h period occurred with the following order of decreasing efficiencies: Zn{sup 2+}-montmorillonite > silica gel > kaolinite > Ca{sup 2+}-montmorillonite > whole soil > Cu{sup 2+}-montmorillonite. These results show that the photoinduced decomposition of adsorbed trichloroethylene occurs on a variety of adsorbents, generating products and intermediates that are similar to what have been reported previously for TiO{sub 2}-based photodecomposition but with much longer time scales. These conversions can, therefore, be expected to occur in sunlight at the air-soil interface.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-95ER14558
- OSTI ID:
- 298237
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 33, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: 1 Jan 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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