Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
5-31-1990
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Science - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
First Advisor
Samir S. Sofer
Second Advisor
Dekang Shen
Third Advisor
Richard B. Trattner
Abstract
There are generally two ways of removing PCP and polychlorophenols from the environment: biodegradation and photodecomposition. However, no convenient way has yet been available to destroy PCP wastes which exist in a concentrated form which may result from some cases of emergency spills. In this thesis, a chemical oxidation procedure is proposed for the destruction of PCP and polychlorophenols.
In a water medium and in the presence of base and oxidant, the PCP and model polychlorophenols destruction percentage obtained is higher than 99.8%. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) are utilized as the bases, and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)2) are utilized as the oxidants. The reaction temperature of destruction of PCP and polychlorophenols is 100°C or less, and water is the reaction medium. After destruction, PCP is converted to mineral chlorides, water, and carbonates--all environmentally disposable substances.
The effects of bases, oxidants and temperature on PCP degradation are studied. The mole ratio of NaOH to PCP from 16 to 219 has almost no effect on PCP degradation. The oxidants play an important role in this process: in order to get a nearly complete degradation, the oxidant to PCP mole ratio must be greater than 6. Reaction temperatures must be higher than 60°C. The intermediate of PCP destruction, chloranil, is identified. The proposed degradation mechanism of PCP and polychlorophenols is discussed and the comparison of the advantage between our process and KPEG method is presented.
Recommended Citation
Kin, Kon-Tsu, "Chemical degradation of PCP and polychlorophenols" (1990). Theses. 2800.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2800
