Characterization of PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) transformer/capacitor fluids and correlation with PCDDs (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins) and PCDFs (polychlorinated dibenzofurans) in soot

Technical Report · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6658201

Campbell, B; Lee, A

Dielectric fluids in transformers and capacitors often contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or chlorobenzenes. These substances may generate polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) under certain conditions of combustion/pyrolysis. When electrical equipment containing these fluids is involved in an accidental fire, the resulting smoke, soot, and residues may be contaminated with PCDDs, PCDFs, and other toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons. The report contains a review of several laboratory studies investigating the sources of PCDDs and PCDFs as well as the conditions under which they are formed. In addition, some data from sites of actual fire incidents are available and are discussed. Chlorobenzenes and PCBs do not form PCDDs and PCDFs when heated in the absence of oxygen. During fires the dielectric fluid of transformers or capacitors may be leaked or vented from ruptured casings. With exposure to oxygen, PCBs can produce PCDFs and chlorobenzenes can produce PCDDs.

• Research Organization: Technical Resources, Inc., Rockville, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6658201
• Report Number(s): PB-87-145785/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
COMBUSTION
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FIRE HAZARDS
FIRES
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
PYROLYSIS
SOOT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSFORMERS