E-BEAM TREATMENT OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE-AIR MIXTURES - PRODUCTS AND RATES

Electron beam (E-beam) treatment of 3000 ppmv trichloroethylene (TCE) vapor in dry and wet air led to rapid, nearly quantitative, conversion of TCE to dichloroacetyl chloride, plus small amounts of phosgene. Hi gher E-beam doses, up to 110 kGy, led to oxidation of the initial prod ucts to CO, CO2, HCl and Cl-2. The results parallel results found for photo-and Cl-atom initiated oxidation of TCE vapor, and are accounted for by an efficient Cl-atom chain oxidation. Lack of effect of 28,000 ppmv water vapor (90% RH) on rates or products reflects a very high ef ficiency for the Cl-atom chain oxidation and the very slow reaction of vapor phase water with acyl halides. Irradiation experiments conducte d with TCE dissolved in aerated and deaerated water at 10 and 300 ppm showed marked differences in radiolytic products from those found in t he vapor phase. A preliminary cost estimate indicates that E-beam trea tment of TCE vapor is very competitive with conventional activated car bon treatment and catalytic oxidation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.