Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are a group of nonpolar, chlorinated hydrocarbons that contains 135 individual congeners. These compounds are known to be persistent, highly toxic, and bioaccumulative in the environment. PCDFs have never produced intentionally; however, they are formed as byproducts of industrial activities and combustion processes. Therefore, PCDFs can be found in all compartment of the ecosystem. Due to the harmful effects of these compounds on the environment and health, it is important to develop a safe, effective, and inexpensive method for PCDF degradation in the environment. In this study, three different systems were used to study the degradation of octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF). OCDF was selected as the compound of interest since it is the fully chlorinated congener of the PCDFs. In the first and second systems, acidified ethanol under ball-milled zero-valent magnesium (ZVMg) and under ZVMg over activated carbon were used, respectively. For the other two systems, ethanol/ethyl lactate co-solvent system over ZVMg and over ZVMg with activated carbon were used. The results of the four systems were compared. However, all the four systems were able to dechlorinate OCDF to less chlorinated furans over time.

Dechlorination of octachlorodibenzofuran by zero-valent magnesium with and without activated carbon using different solvent systems

255th National Meeting (2018)

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