FORMATION OF POILYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-p-DIOXINS BY CuCI2-CATALYZED CONDENSATION OF 2,6 CHLORINATED PHENOLS

Abstract

CuCI₂-catalyzed formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) from four 2,6 chlorinated phenols was studied in an isothermal flow reactor. Heated gas streams containing oxygen (8%, mole) and 2,6-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol vapor (300 ppmv, each) were passed through 1 cm particle beds containing CuCl₂- Two gas velocities, 2·7 and 0·9cm/s, were studied, as well as effects of var3'ing the duration of experiments. PCDD yields were greatest between 300 °C and 450 °C, with 60%phenol conversion to PCDDs observed at low gas velocity. Over a range of conditions for which total PCDD product yields varied by two orders of magnitude, PCDD homologue and isomer distributions varied only slightly. The major PCDD product was 1,2,3,4,6,8-H₆CDD, formed from 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol. This congener, and other PCDDs formed from the three 2,4,6 chlorinated phenols, are major constituents of incinerator PCDD distributions.