RADIATION-INDUCED DECOMPOSITION OF HALOGENATED ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN WATER

Decomposition by ionizing radiations of p-chlorophenol and tetrachloro ethylene in synthetic water samples at about 2 mg Cl L-1, has been stu died on laboratory-scale experiments. Bicarbonate/carbonate and nitrat e ions, at two concentration levels (20 and 200 mg HCO3- L-1 and 1 and 50 mg NO3- L-1) were added to synthetic samples in order to evaluate their influence on decomposition yield. At 5 kGy gamma dose level, a q uantitative degradation of p-chlorophenol is obtained whereas only qua litative consideration can be drawn on tetracholoroethylene. Comparati ve study with respect to degradation of p-cholophenol solutions (about 2 mg Cl L-1) by gamma-rays and electron beam irradiation treatment at 0.5 kGy dose level,are in progress; preliminary results indicate that irradiation with gamma-rays seems to be more efficient in terms of re moval efficiency respect to electron beams source.