During the 1970’s chlorinated organic solvents, such as 1,2-dichlorpropane (DCP), were used heavily as degreasers, paint strippers, chemical intermediates, and soil fumigants. Within the last 30 years, use of these solvents has steadily declined due to their adverse health effects and now are primarily used as chemical intermediates. DCP is classified as a probable human carcinogen and has been shown to cause damage to kidneys, blood cells, liver, respiratory and reproductive systems, and prolonged exposure to high concentrations can lead to death. Due to these hazards and contamination in the environment, DCP has secured a place on the EPA Priority Pollutants List. DCP is a recalcitrant compound and current remediation methods that employ zero-valent iron (ZVI) are unable to remediate it making its elimination urgent and necessary. Researchers at UCF’s Industrial and Environmental Lab have employed a novel method for the remediation of DCP by the utilization ZVI and vitamin B12 as an electron shuttle. Batch reactions were performed in order to determine a kinetic model for this degradation mechanism. In addition, varying concentration of vitamin B12 was tested to determine degradation parameter. Dechlorination byproducts of DCP were confirmed through gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled to a purge and trap and free chloride was determined by ion chromatography (IC) with suppressed conductivity detection. Experiments were conducted over a 3-week period and more than 95% degradation was observed for DCP. The primary degradation product was propene and the release of free chlorides into solution.

Reductive dechlorination of 1,2-dichloroproane by ZVI with vitamin B12

255th National Meeting (2018)

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