PHOTOTHERMAL OXIDATIVE DESTRUCTION OF CHLORONAPHTHALENE

We have investigated the feasibility of using concentrated solar photo ns for the destruction of hazardous waste. Chloronaphthalene was chose n as the model compound for study, and light intensities were used tha t are close to those expected from a high-flux solar furnace. The resu lts showed that the addition of ultraviolet photons to a reactor great ly accelerates the reaction rate for oxidation. The light intensity ha s an exponential effect on the degree of destruction, as predicted by earlier studies. Derived primary quantum yields in the gas phase are m uch higher than reported values in organic liquids: 0.2 for gas phase vs 0.002-0.005 for liquids. The products of incomplete oxidation were tentatively identified, and similar products were found in the presenc e or absence of ultraviolet light. At low temperatures, the ultraviole t light appeared to promote the formation of these products, while at higher temperatures, the light enhanced the destruction of the byprodu cts. It was found that, at a given destruction level, the product slat e was similar with and without the light.