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PD/MG BIMETALLIC CORROSION CELLS FOR DECHLORINATING PCBS
Citation:
AGARWAL, S., S. R. AL-ABED, AND D. D. DIONYSIOU. PD/MG BIMETALLIC CORROSION CELLS FOR DECHLORINATING PCBS. Presented at 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10 - 14, 2006.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Two dissimilar metals immersed in a conducting solution develop different corrosion potentials forming a bimetallic corrosion cell. Enhanced corrosion of an active metal like Mg combined with catalytic hydrogenation properties of a noble metal like Pd in such bimetallic cells can effectively reduce persistent organic pollutants (POPs). PCBs are model POPs notorious for their aquatic and sedimentary prevalence, carcinogenic and recalcitrant nature and bimetallic systems like Pd/Fe have been widely tested for degrading them. However, Mg has higher reduction potential than Fe (2.2V vs. 0.44V) and does not require anaerobic experimental conditions or surface treatment. Work with micro-scale Pd/Mg bimetallic catalytic systems in our laboratory produced complete dechlorination of 1-20 ppm of 2-chlorobiphenyl with 1-8 mg of K2PdCl6 and 0.24g of Mg within 0.25-1 hour. The effect of amount of Pd doping, initial concentration of 2-chlorobiphenyl and particle size of Mg particles on degradation kinetics and efficiency will be presented.