PCDD/DF Formations by the Heterogeneous Thermal Reactions of Phenols and Their TiO sub(2) Photocatalytic Degradation by Batch-Recycle System

The formation of PCDDs and PCDFs by heterogeneous thermal reactions of phenols with copper chloride under oxygen flux was studied, along with the photocatalytic degradation of PCDDs and PCDFs in acetonitrile/water solution using titanium dioxide thin film prepared by the sol gel method. Thermal treatment of powder mixtures of phenol and CuCl sub(2) produced PCDD and PCDF formation rates that were approximately 40-fold higher than for a phenol vapor/oxygen/CuCl sub(2) powder system. In the presence of TiO sub(2), most PCDD congeners photodecomposed rapidly.