Copper-catalyzed dechlorination/hydrogenation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and other chlorinated aromatic compounds

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00164a007· OSTI ID:5002031

Hagenmaier, H; Brunner, H; Haag, R; Kraft, M

The recent discovery that fly ash samples from different waste incineration facilities catalyze a dechlorination/hydrogenation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) at temperatures below 300/sup 0/C prompted us to test metals and metal oxides for such a catalytic activity. Copper was found to catalyze the dechlorination/hydrogenation of octaCDD and octaCDF at low temperatures, leading either to mixtures of chlorinated dibenzodioxin or dibenzofuran congeners or to the disappearance of PCDD or PCDF below limits of detection. The time dependence and temperature dependence of the copper-catalyzed dechlorination of octaCDD and octaCDF were studied in detail. At temperatures as low as 102/sup 0/C octaCDD is dechlorinated to an extent of 93% within 20 h under formation of lower chlorinated PCDDs. At 300/sup 0/C, the decomposition of octaCDD and of all PCDD formed as intermediates by the dechlorination reaction is 99.99% complete within 1 min. The copper-catalyzed dechlorination/hydrogenation reaction is not restricted to PCDD and PCDF. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorobenzenes as well as brominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and brominated dibenzofurans were found to undergo decomposition in the presence of copper powder. Copper-catalyzed dechlorination has been applied successfully for the safe decomposition of PCDD/PCDF in liquid laboratory waste from dioxin analysis and also for the synthesis of mixtures of /sup 13/C-, /sup 2/H-, and /sup 3/H-labeled PCDD/PCDF.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Tuebingen, West Germany
• OSTI ID: 5002031
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 21:11; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500101 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (-1989)
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOL WASTES
AIR POLLUTION
AROMATICS
ASHES
BENZOFURANS
CARBON 13
CARBON ISOTOPES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
COPPER
DECOMPOSITION
DEUTERIUM
DIOXIN
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLY ASH
FURANS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INCINERATORS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIGHT NUCLEI
METALS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RESIDUES
STABLE ISOTOPES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TIME DEPENDENCE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
WASTES