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U.S. Department of Energy
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Feasibility study of chemical detoxification of polychlorinated biphenyl capacitors. Phase I study. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5043964

Chemical detoxification of polychlorinated biphenyl (PBC) using sodium metal reduction is emerging as a significant new method of destroying PCB liquids. The results of a preliminary study on chemical detoxification as it applys to PCB's in capacitors are reported. The results of the first phase of a two-phase study are presented to evaluate the possibility of chemical processing of PCB capacitors. Phase I consists of the following tasks: literature search, acquisition of EPA permits for PCB research, evaluation of the legal and regulatory requirements of this process, design specialized equipment for handling PCB capacitors in the laboratory, and design Phase II research program. Phase II tasks are described. The results of the first-phase program were very encouraging. Based on available information, it appears possible to chemically destroy PCB's in capacitors. This report identifies questions that must be answered by the Phase II (laboratory) program before the feasibility of such an operation can be determined. Finally, this report describes a research program that must be followed to answer the previously mentioned questions, and to develop the design data for a full-scale capacitor treatment system.

Research Organization:
Acurex Waste Technologies, Inc., Mountain View, CA (USA)
OSTI ID:
5043964
Report Number(s):
EPRI-CS-2477; ON: DE82906427
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English