Masaaki Imanaka

Transfer to fish of petroleum paraffins and organic sulfur compounds

Abstract Eels were maintained in a controlled laboratory environment in water with suspensions of crude oil. Gas chromatography of the eel flesh revealed the presence of paraffins and organic sulfur compounds whose concentration increased with rearing time.

Superoxide radical-induced degradation of polychlorobiphenyls and chlordanes at low temperature

Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), have unique physical and chemical properties. It has been found that commercial PCBs have also contained polychlorinated dibenzofuranes (PCDFs) formed under pyrolytic conditions. Disposal of hazardous PCBs, therefore, has resulted in considerable environmental problems because of their extreme resistance to degradation. This paper presents the results of the chemical degradation studies of PCBs and chlordanes in the presence of pyridine, a chain transfer agent using superoxide ion (O{sub 2}{sup {minus}}) produced by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and sodium metaperiodate at the low temperature (60-75% C). In this degradation method pyridine, the chain transfer agent with the much lower value of the chain transfer constant, was used so as to prolong the life span of O{sub 2}{sup {minus}} and/or the induced PCBs radical. The radical degradation of PCBs was finally promoted.