Improved method for decomposition of halogenated organic compounds

Claim 3

A method claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the alkali metal hydroxide is lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or a mixture thereof, in that R 1 and R 2 are hydrogen and x is 2, and in that the halogenated organic compound is hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, tetrachlorobenzene, dichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, decachlorooctahydro-l,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta-[c,d]-pentalen-2-one or polychlorinated biphenyl.

Claim 4

The method claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the decomposition reagent is formed from sodium hydroxide and polyethylene glycol.

Claim 5

In the method for decomposing a halogenated organic compound by the steps of providing a decomposition reagent formed by reacting an alkali metal, a reactant having the general formula wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, and unsubstituted or substituted aryl, n has a value from about 2 to about 400 and x has a value of at least 2, and oxygen; and reacting the halogenated organic compound with the decomposition reagent in the presence of oxygen to effect dehalogenation of said halogenated organic compound, the improvement which comprises introducing into the decomposition reaction mixture an alkali metal-containing compound which is soluble therein to enhance the reactivity of said decomposition reagent.

Claim 6

In the method for decomposing a halogenated organic compound by the steps of providing a decomposition reagent formed by reacting an alkali metal, a reactant having the general formula wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, and unsubstituted or substituted aryl, n has a value from about 2 to about 400 and x has a value of at least 2, and oxygen; and reacting the halogenated organic compound with the decomposition reagent in the presence of oxygen to effect dehalogenation of said halogenated organic compound, the improvement which comprises introducing into the decomposition reaction mixture an alkali metal-containing compound which is soluble therein to enhance the reactivity of said decomposition reagent.

Claim 7

The method claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said alkali metal-containing compound is an alkali metal hydroxide and said halogenated organic compound is selected from the group consisting of hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, tetrachlorobenzene, pentachlorophenol, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, decachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta-rc,d]-pentalen-2-one or polychlorinated biphenyl.

Claim 8

The method claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said decomposition reagent is formed from sodium, polyethylene glycol and oxygen and the alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.

Claim 9

The method claimed in claim 3 or claim 6, characterised in that the halogenated organic compound comprises polychlorinated biphenyl.

Claim 10

The method claimed in claim 1 or claim 5, characterised in that the alkali metal hydroxide is introduced in the form of an aqueous solution thereof.

Claim 11

The method claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the halogenated organic compound is dissolved in a water-immiscible liquid, whereby the mixture remaining after the reaction of the halogenated organic compound with the decomposition reagent separates into two liquid phases comprising an aqueous phase and a water-immiscible phase substantially free of said organic halogenated compound, and the water-immiscible phase is separated from the aqueous phase.

Claim 12

The method claimed in claim 1 or claim 8 when dependent on claim 1,characterised in that the alkali metal hydroxide is reacted with the reactant at a mole ratio of about 1 to 1.5 moles, preferably about 1.1 moles, of alkali metal hydroxide per mole of reactant.

Claim 13

The product of the reaction of an alkali metal hydroxide, a reactant having the general formula wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, and unsubstituted or substituted aryl, n has a value from about 2 to about 400 and x has a value of at least 2, and oxygen.

Claim 14

The product of the reaction of an alkali metal hydroxide, a reactant having the general formula wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, and unsubstituted or substituted aryl, n has a value from about 2 to about 400 and x has a value of at least 2, and oxygen.

Claim 15

The product claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or a mixture thereof, in that R 1 and R 2 are hydrogen and in that x is 2.

Claim 16

The product of the reaction claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide and in that the reactant is polyethylene glycol.

Claim 17

The product claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that the alkali metal hydroxide is in the form of an aqueous solution.