US EPA

2152788 

Journal Article 

Chemical degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls by the UV-Fe2+/Fe3+-H2O2 system and its application for polychlorinated biphenyl-polluted electric insulating oil 

Azuma, T; Mino, Y 

2011 

Yes 

Journal of Health Science
ISSN: 1344-9702
EISSN: 1347-5207 

57 

5 

442-447 

English 

10.1248/jhs.57.442 

WOS:000295388100010 

The application of an optimized Fenton reaction and UV irradiation to the degradation of highly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was performed. Recommended conditions were: Fe2+/Fe3+ concentration (16 mM), H2O2 concentration (12%), temperature (70 degrees C), pH (2.0), reaction time under stirring (>= 2 hr), re-addition of iron solution (1 hr intervals) and H2O2 (30 min intervals) and UV irradiation (254 nm, intensity 0.4 mW cm(-2)). When the system was applied to mixtures of PCBs at 5 ppm [PCBs congeners Kanechlor (KC)-400/600], low chlorine substituted biphenyls (Cl: 2-5) were completely decomposed after 2 hr, and even > 90% of high chlorine substituted biphenyls (Cl: 6-8) could be degraded. When the present system was first applied to PCBs present in polluted electric insulating oil (25 ppm), > 80% of PCBs were successfully degraded after 8 hr. These results suggest that the present UV-Fe2+/Fe3+-H2O2 system could be employed as a new technique for combating persistent organic pollutants such as PCBs. 

chemical degradation; polychlorinated biphenyl; UV-Fe2+/Fe3+-H2O2 system; Fenton and Fenton-like reactions; polychlorinated biphenyl-polluted electric insulating oil