Reagent and method for decomposing halogenated organic compounds

Claim 1

A method for the decomposition of a halogenated organic compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the halogenated compound, a reactant having the general formula ##STR11## 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 of from 2 to about 400, and x has a value of at least 2, and an alkali metal; and (b) reacting said reactant with said alkali metal and oxygen to form a decomposition reagent, which effects substantially complete removal of halogen from said halogenated compound and forms an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 2

A method for the decomposition of a halogenated organic compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the halogenated compound, a reactant having the general formula ##STR11## 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 of from 2 to about 400, and x has a value of at least 2, and an alkali metal; and (b) reacting said reactant with said alkali metal and oxygen to form a decomposition reagent, which effects substantially complete removal of halogen from said halogenated compound and forms an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 5

A method for the decomposition of a halogenated organic compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the halogenated compound, a reactant having the general formula ##STR12## 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 of from 2 to about 400, and x has a value of at least 2, and an alkali metal; (b) reacting said reactant with said alkali metal in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere to produce an intermediate product; and (c) reacting oxygen with the intermediate product produced in step b to form a decomposition reagent which effects substantially complete removal of halogen from said halogenated compound and forms an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 6

A method for the decomposition of a halogenated organic compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the halogenated compound, a reactant having the general formula ##STR12## 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 of from 2 to about 400, and x has a value of at least 2, and an alkali metal; (b) reacting said reactant with said alkali metal in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere to produce an intermediate product; and (c) reacting oxygen with the intermediate product produced in step b to form a decomposition reagent which effects substantially complete removal of halogen from said halogenated compound and forms an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 10

A method for the decomposition of a halogenated organic compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a decomposition reagent formed by reacting an alkali metal, a reactant having the general formula: ##STR13## 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 (b) reacting said decomposition reagent with said halogenated organic compound in the presence of oxygen to effect substantially complete dehalogenation of said halogenated organic compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 11

A method for the decomposition of a halogenated organic compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a decomposition reagent formed by reacting an alkali metal, a reactant having the general formula: ##STR13## 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 (b) reacting said decomposition reagent with said halogenated organic compound in the presence of oxygen to effect substantially complete dehalogenation of said halogenated organic compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 14

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a decomposition reagent formed by reacting an alkali metal, a reactant having the general formula: ##STR14## 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 (b) reacting said decomposition reagent with said polychlorinated biphenyl in the presence of oxygen to effect substantially complete dehalogenation of said halogenated organic compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 15

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a decomposition reagent formed by reacting an alkali metal, a reactant having the general formula: ##STR14## 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 (b) reacting said decomposition reagent with said polychlorinated biphenyl in the presence of oxygen to effect substantially complete dehalogenation of said halogenated organic compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 17

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the polychlorinated biphenyl, a reactant having the general formula ##STR15## 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 of from 2 to about 400, and x has a value of at least 2, and an alkali metal; and (b) reacting said reactant with said alkali metal and oxygen to form a decomposition reagent which effects substantially complete removal of halogen from said polychlorinated biphenyl and forms an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 18

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the polychlorinated biphenyl, a reactant having the general formula ##STR15## 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 of from 2 to about 400, and x has a value of at least 2, and an alkali metal; and (b) reacting said reactant with said alkali metal and oxygen to form a decomposition reagent which effects substantially complete removal of halogen from said polychlorinated biphenyl and forms an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 20

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the polychlorinated biphenyl, a reactant having the general formula ##STR16## 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 of from 2 to about 400, and x has a value of at least 2, and an alkali metal; (b) reacting said reactant with said alkali metal in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere to produce an intermediate product; and (c) reacting oxygen with the intermediate product produced in step b to form a decomposition reagent which effects substantially complete removal of halogen from said polychlorinated biphenyl and forms an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 21

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the polychlorinated biphenyl, a reactant having the general formula ##STR16## 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 of from 2 to about 400, and x has a value of at least 2, and an alkali metal; (b) reacting said reactant with said alkali metal in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere to produce an intermediate product; and (c) reacting oxygen with the intermediate product produced in step b to form a decomposition reagent which effects substantially complete removal of halogen from said polychlorinated biphenyl and forms an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 23

A method for the decomposition of a chlorinated organic compound comprising the steps of: (a) reacting sodium, polyethylene glycol and oxygen at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 120° C. to form a decomposition reagent; and (b) adding the chlorinated compound to the decomposition reagent in the presence of oxygen and heating to about 100° C. to effect substantially complete dechlorination of the chlorinated compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 24

A method for the decomposition of a chlorinated organic compound comprising the steps of: (a) reacting sodium, polyethylene glycol and oxygen at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 120° C. to form a decomposition reagent; and (b) adding the chlorinated compound to the decomposition reagent in the presence of oxygen and heating to about 100° C. to effect substantially complete dechlorination of the chlorinated compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 25

A method for the decomposition of a chlorinated organic compond comprising the steps of: (a) mixing the chlorinated compound with polyethylene glycol; (b) reacting the polyethylene glycol with sodium in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 120° C.; and (c) reacting oxygen with the reaction products of step b and heating the reaction mixture to about 100° C. to effect substantially complete dechlorination of the chlorinated compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 26

A method for the decomposition of a chlorinated organic compond comprising the steps of: (a) mixing the chlorinated compound with polyethylene glycol; (b) reacting the polyethylene glycol with sodium in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 120° C.; and (c) reacting oxygen with the reaction products of step b and heating the reaction mixture to about 100° C. to effect substantially complete dechlorination of the chlorinated compound and form an oxygenated derivative of said compound.

Claim 29

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl, comprising the steps of: (a) reacting sodium, polyethylene glycol and oxygen at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 120° C. to form a decomposition reagent; and (b) adding the polychlorinated biphenyl to the decomposition reagent in the presence of oxygen and heating to about 100° C. to effect substantially complete dechlorination of the polychlorinated biphenyl and form an oxygenated derivative thereof.

Claim 30

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl, comprising the steps of: (a) reacting sodium, polyethylene glycol and oxygen at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 120° C. to form a decomposition reagent; and (b) adding the polychlorinated biphenyl to the decomposition reagent in the presence of oxygen and heating to about 100° C. to effect substantially complete dechlorination of the polychlorinated biphenyl and form an oxygenated derivative thereof.

Claim 31

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the polychlorinated biphenyl, polyethylene glycol and sodium; (b) reacting said polyethylene glycol with said sodium in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 120° C.; and (c) reacting oxygen with the reaction products of step b and heating the reaction mixture to about 100° C. to effect substantially complete dechlorination of the polychlorinated biphenyl and form an oxygenated derivative thereof.

Claim 32

A method for the decomposition of a polychlorinated biphenyl comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising the polychlorinated biphenyl, polyethylene glycol and sodium; (b) reacting said polyethylene glycol with said sodium in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 120° C.; and (c) reacting oxygen with the reaction products of step b and heating the reaction mixture to about 100° C. to effect substantially complete dechlorination of the polychlorinated biphenyl and form an oxygenated derivative thereof.