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Dechlorination of chloromethanes on iron and palladium-iron bimetallic surface in aqueous systems

Journal Article · · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
; ;  [1]
  1. Cleveland State Univ., OH (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

Iron granules and palladium-treated iron granules (Pd/Fe[sup 0]-H[sub 2]O) in contact with water have been tested as a potential means to dechlorinate chloromethanes (CCl[sub 4], CHCl[sub 3], and CH[sub 2]Cl[sub 2]) that are commonly generated in teaching chemistry laboratories. Palladium treatment enhanced the rate of dechlorination of CCl[sub 4] by a factor of about seven compared to the untreated Fe[sup 0]-H[sub 2]O, but the potential toxic effect of palladium remains a concern. Oxygen in the aqueous solution reduced the dechlorination rates of CCl[sub 4] with both Fe[sup 0]-H[sub 2]O and Pd/Fe[sup 0]-H[sub 2]O by at least a factor of three. Nevertheless, from the consideration of remediating solvent wastes, both systems appear suitable for treating CCl[sub 4] and possibly CHCl[sub 3] wastes, even in the presence of oxygen. The reactivities of the three chloromethanes toward the Fe[sup 0]-H[sub 2]O were vastly different. The dechlorination rate of CCl[sub 4] was by far the highest, followed by that of CHCl[sub 3], and CH[sub 2]Cl was virtually unreactive toward the Fe[sup 0]-H[sub 2]O system. Dechlorination reactions of CCl[sub 4] and CHCl[sub 3] were systematically examined on both Fe[sup 0]-H[sub 2]O and Pd/Fe[sup 0]-H[sub 2]O. On the basis of the data, it appears that CCl[sub 4] is successively dechlorinated to form CH[sub 4] via the formation of partially dechlorinated intermediates. Proton transfer to various intermediates produces the chloromethanes: CHCl[sub 3], CH[sub 2]Cl[sub 2], and CH[sub 3]Cl. Furthermore, CH[sub 4] formation, independent of the proton-transferring reactions, appears to be selectively stimulated by palladium.

OSTI ID:
6406750
Journal Information:
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Vol. 18:6; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English