The Dechlorination on Polychlorinated Biphenyls by Sodium Hydride and Alkylamine

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can be dechlorinated by using sodium hydride and alkylamine. The degree of dechlorination after reaction was determined by Gas Chromatography analysis. The concentration of PCBs can be reduced below 6 ppm when PCB contaminated mineral oil (in the range 400 ppm to 20,000 ppm) reacted with sodium hydride and ethylenediamine for 15 minutes from room temperature to 650C in air. The reaction is exothermic with the formation of sodium chloride, hydrogen and polymeric biphenylamine. A catalyzed nucleophilic displacement reaction was proposed for reaction mechanism. The reaction conditions are mild and simple. The reagents used are commonly available in commercial quantities. Therefore, this process may be feasible for commercial chemical destruction of PCBs.