Dechlorination of Hexachlorobenzene by Zero-Valent Iron

Abstract

Chemical reduction of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) by metallic iron was investigated. Since the percentage of HCB transformation is almost the same as that of chloride ion production, no chlorinated intermediates in the solution was formed during the reduction reaction. The solution pH went to around 8.0 even though the initial pH was 10 or lowered to 3. The reaction is pseudofirst order with respect to HCB concentration. The optimum dosage of iron particles for the dechlorination of HCB varies with the HCB concentration. For example, when the initial concentration of HCB was