The environmental fate of halogenated organic compounds can be determined by a variety of processes, of which, dehalogenation is the most characteristic. The many studies on dehalogenation of the familiar halogenated organics (e.g., trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride) provide a conceptual model that applies to less well studied, emerging contaminants such as 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP). For example, early work on 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) and related compounds used as pesticides showed parallel dehalogenation pathways driven by a variety of natural, abiotic reductants, most of which should apply to TCP. However, the exceptional recalcitrance of TCP has caused us to focus on its degradation by stronger reductants such as the zerovalent metals (ZVMs). To obtain a more fundamental understanding of what controls the branching among competing dechlorination pathways for TCP, we will present recent experimental and computational results and compare them to older work on related compounds.

Dechlorination of 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP): A case study in assessing the environmental fate of emerging contaminants

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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