Method for decomposition of halogenated organic compounds
AssigneeThe Franklin Institute
InventorsLouis L. Pytlewski, Kenneth Krevitz, Arthur B. Smith
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Abstract
A reagent comprising the product of the reaction of an alkali metal hydroxide with a polyglycol or a polyglycol monoalkyl ether and oxygen, effects complete decomposition of halogenated organic compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), when mixed therewith in the presence of oxygen.
Claims18
A method for the decomposition of a halogenated organic compound, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a decomposition reagent formed by reacting an alkali metal hydroxide, a reactant having the general formula:
- ##STR2## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, and unsubstituted or substituted aryl, n has a value from about 2 to about 400 and x has a value or at least 2, and oxygen, said reagent containing an amount of water, said amount of water not exceeding about 20 weight percent of said reagent and
- (b) reacting said decomposition reagent with the halogenated organic compound at a temperature of no more than 120.degree. C. to effect at least about 85% dehalogenation of said halogenated organic compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound.
In the method for decomposing a halogenated organic compound by the steps of providing a decomposition reagent formed by reacting an alkali metal, a reactant having the general formula ##STR3## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, and unsubstituted or substituted aryl, n has a value from about 2 to about 400 and x has a value of at least 2, and oxygen;
- and reacting the halogenated organic compound with the decomposition reagent in the presence of oxygen to effect substantially complete dehalogenation of said halogenated organic compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound, the improvement which comprises introducing into the decomposition reaction mixture an alkali metal containing compound which is soluble therein to enhance the reactivity of said decomposition reagent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.