A Simple Laboratory Destruction Method of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans by Potassium Hydroxide·Polyethylene Glycol Complex

Abstract

Destruction of PCDDs and PCDFs was investigated by using a dehalogenation reagent including a complex of polyethlene glycol, potassium hydroxide and dimethyl sulfoxide.
When reacted at 70°C, 2, 3, 7, 8-T₄CDD, the most highly toxic among PCDD and PCDF isomers, was very effectively decomposed, resulting into the degradation efficiency to be more than 99.9% for 1hour of the reaction time. A similar result was observed under the coexistence of fat impurities, exemplified by butter. In addition, when the dehalogenation method was adapted to O₈CDD or a purified fraction from waste incinerator fly ash including most of PCDD and PCDF isomers, similar degradation efficiency was also recognized.
In the case of O₈CDD degradation, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8-H₇CDD formed with a maximum yield of 0.28%. However, no other toxic tetra- through hexachlorinated isomers with chlorine atoms in 2, 3, 7 and 8 positions of their molecules generated.