Abstract
Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are a class of highly toxic organic compounds that have been detected in all compartments of the ecosystem. In this research, a novel method using ball-milled ZVMg and ZVMg with activated carbon in acidified ethanol and acidified 2-butoxyethanol solvents has been applied to investigate reductive dechlorination of the selected PCDF congeners under ambient conditions. Octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) was chosen as a model for high-chlorinated congeners and 2,8-dibenzofuran was chosen as a model for low-chlorinated congeners. Both congeners were degraded efficiently in all systems. The addition of activated carbon enhanced the degradation kinetics for both congeners. Complete conversion of OCDF to dibenzofuran, the chlorine-free compound was achieved by ball-milled ZVMg in ethanol. When 2-butoxyethanol was used, the final products were dichlorodibenzofuran as well as dibenzofuran. Complete kinetic studies were conducted for the high-and low-chlorinated congeners. The results demonstrate that the reactions follow pseudo-first order kinetics with respect to analyte degradation for all systems studied. A degradation pathway for the dechlorination of OCDF is proposed. Overall, this technology is promising as part of a remediation option for PCDF contaminants.