Sridhar Komarneni

Microwave–hydrothermal decomposition of chlorinated organic compounds

Abstract The application of microwave–hydrothermal (M–H) heating has been evaluated in the decomposition of chlorinated organic compounds such as dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and pentachlorophenol. This study also focused on the comparison of M–H with conventional–hydrothermal (C–H) treatment on the decomposition of the chlorinated organic compounds. Within 5 min, more than 98% of dichloroethane was decomposed at 180 psi (approximately 190°C) in 2.5 M NaOH solution by M–H treatment. The decomposition rates of the chlorinated compounds were accelerated by four to six times by M–H treatment compared to C–H treatment. No significant difference in reaction products between M–H and C–H treatment was observed, based on the analysis by gas chromatography. This study demonstrates that the application of M–H treatment leads to greatly accelerated kinetics in the decomposition of chlorinated compounds when compared to C–H treatment.