KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF REDUCTIVE DEHALOGENATION OF CARBON-TETRACHLORIDE USING ZERO-VALENCE METALS

Elemental iron and zinc reduced part-per-thousand levels of aqueous-ph ase carbon tetrachloride to chloroform in a few hours. Free metal ions , chloride ion and hydrogen gas were produced in the reaction; protons were consumed. Process kinetics were dependent on solution pH, surfac e area of the elemental metal, carbon tetrachloride concentration, buf fer selection and solvent composition (volume fraction 2-propanol). Re action rate was first-order with respect to carbon tetrachloride at co ncentrations less than 7.5 mM. This class of reactions offers promise as a means for initiating the destruction of heavily halogenated organ ic compounds.