SACRED - A novel catalytic process for the environmental remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS)

The catalytic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been stud ied in aqueous media and contaminated soils. A novel SAmarium Catalyzed RED uctive dechlorination (SACRED) is demonstrated which is able to operate in a short timescale under mild conditions (ambient temperature; inert atmosph ere) and with low energy requirements. Samarium (II) iodide, in the presenc e of hexamethylphosphoramide in tetrahydrofuran, catalyses hydrogenolytic d echlorination of highly chlorinated PCBs, generating biphenyl, mono- and di chlorinated biphenyls from Aroclor 1242. Catalysis is also effective in co- contaminated soils containing various PCBs and in the presence of up to 5 % (w/w) moisture. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.