Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) are two common industrial chemicals and groundwater pollutants which have recently been declared as carcinogens by the EPA. Therefore, it is critical to develop methods of converting PCE and TCE to more benign forms after industrial use, to prevent groundwater from being contaminated. The enzyme cofactor F430, which is found in anaerobic archaea, has been shown to dechlorinate PCE and TCE, producing ethylene. However, the reaction mechanism is poorly understood. [Ni(cyclam)]2+ was used as a biomimetic model compound in order to study the reaction mechanisms of the dechlorination of PCE and TCE. Kinetic studies were monitored using UV-vis spectroscopy and GC-MS, and product analysis was carried out using SPME sampling for GC-MS. Nickel cyclam demonstrated the ability to dechlorinate PCE to produce TCE, dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. Kinetic monitoring of the reaction with UV-vis spectroscopy showed a rate which suggests a first order relationship between concentration of substrate and dechlorination. This work advances our understanding of dehalogenation reactions.

Investigating dechlorination mechanisms using biomimetic model compounds

2019 Spring National Meeting

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