Hydrothermal decomposition of polychlorinated biphenyls

Technical report: A microautoclave was used to study decomposition of PCB's by dechlorination. PCB's were decomposed completely in the presence of a methanol and sodium hydroxide solution under hydrothermal conditions of 300-320..cap alpha..C and 180 kg/sq cm pressure. The dechlorinating decomposition process was tested using 4-chlorobiphenyl as a simple model compound. The industrial treatment of PCB's with a continuous pipeline system was proposed. The decomposed mixture was easily treated with activated bacteria. (4 diagrams, 4 graphs, 7 references)