KINETIC MODELING OF CARBON-TETRACHLORIDE, CHLOROFORM AND METHYLENE-CHLORIDE REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS-SOLUTION USING THE ELECTRON-BEAM PROCESS

An innovative treatment process using high energy electrons has been s hown to be effective for the destruction of various toxic (regulated) organic chemicals. This paper presents data for the destruction of chl orinated methanes, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and methylene chlo ride in treated groundwater. The studies were conducted at pilot scale , using a 75 kW electron beam at a how rate of 0.38 m(3) min(-1) This study examined the effect of solute concentration and total alkalinity on removal efficiency. A kinetic model was used to describe the resul ts of single solute experiments of the three chlorinated methanes. The se model predictions were then compared to experimental results and sh owed a varying degree of predictability for the three compounds. These calculations suggest that the initial reactions which eventually lead to the mineralization of the three chlorinated methanes result primar ily from aqueous electron initiated reactions. The subsequent reaction between O-2 and the carbon centered radicals with the formation of al kyl peroxides also appears important for their ultimate decomposition. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.