The contamination of many soil and aquatic systems through the bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is a major concern due to their high toxicity and slow degradation kinetics.  An effective method of reducing PCBs' toxicity is to decompose them into their less toxic biphenyl form.  Using magnesium powder as a reducing agent, small amounts of 1.4 nm Dendrimer Encapsulated Palladium Nanoparticles (Pd-DENs) enhanced the rate of decomposition of both a model PCB congener, 2,2',3,3',4,5-Hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB), and a PCB mixture of Aroclor 1260.  Reactions were monitored by both a chloride ion selective electrode and gas chromatography.  The results indicated that the rate of reaction was moderately enhanced even when microgram amounts of nanoparticle catalysts were used.  In comparison to literature reports, it is significant that by using surface active Pd nanoparticles the amount of catalyst required is drastically reduced to achieve the conversion to biphenyl.

Dendrimer encapsulated Pd nanoparticle catalyzed decomposition of polychlorinated biphenyls

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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