Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1995, 60, 917-927
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19950917

Electrochemical Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Pavel Janderka and Pavel Brož

Department of Theoretical and Physical Chemistry, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract

The feasibility of electrochemical conversion of polychlorinated biphenyls to the parent hydrocarbon in N,N-dimethylformamide was studied with respect to the charge and mass efficiency of the process. The process was conducted in two variants, viz. as indirect conversion through pre-electrolysis of an alkali salt solution, and as direct electroreducing splitting of the carbon-chlorine bonds. Mercury served as the working electrode; the suitability of other metals as cathode materials was also examined by slow cyclic voltammetry.