Removal of PCBs and other halogenated organic compounds from organic fluids

Claim 1

A method for the removal of a halogenated organic compound from an organic fluid containing said compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a decomposition reagent comprising the product of the reaction of a first reactant selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, or alloys of said metals, or an alkali metal hydroxide or mixtures of said hydroxides, a second reactant having the general formula ##STR2## 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, said reaction being carried out in an inert atmosphere; (b) mixing said reagent with said fluid containing said halogenated compound in an inert atmosphere under reactive conditions to form a derivative of said halogenated organic compound, having a reduced halogen content, and a reagent residue, the reagent residue being substantially immiscible with said fluid, and said derivative being more soluble in said reagent residue than in said fluid; (c) allowing said mixture to separate into a two-phase system comprising a reagent residue phase containing said derivative and a fluid phase substantially free of said halogenated compound; and (d) separating said reagent residue phase from said fluid phase.

Claim 2

A method for the removal of a halogenated organic compound from an organic fluid containing said compound, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a decomposition reagent comprising the product of the reaction of a first reactant selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, or alloys of said metals, or an alkali metal hydroxide or mixtures of said hydroxides, a second reactant having the general formula ##STR2## 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, said reaction being carried out in an inert atmosphere; (b) mixing said reagent with said fluid containing said halogenated compound in an inert atmosphere under reactive conditions to form a derivative of said halogenated organic compound, having a reduced halogen content, and a reagent residue, the reagent residue being substantially immiscible with said fluid, and said derivative being more soluble in said reagent residue than in said fluid; (c) allowing said mixture to separate into a two-phase system comprising a reagent residue phase containing said derivative and a fluid phase substantially free of said halogenated compound; and (d) separating said reagent residue phase from said fluid phase.