Halogenated aromatic compound removal and destruction process

Claim 1

A method for removing a halogenated aromatic compound from a liquid carrier contaminated therewith and for dehalogenating the halogenated aromatic compound removed from said liquid carrier, which comprises: (a) mixing said carrier contaminated with said halogenated aromatic compound with a solvent to form a mixture in a mixing zone for extracting said halogenated aromatic compound into said solvent, said solvent being immiscible with said carrier, stable under electrolysis conditions, and stable to chlorine; (b) withdrawing said mixture from said mixing zone and passing same into a settling zone for permitting said mixture to form a carrier layer diminished in halogenated aromatic compound content and a solvent layer enriched in halogenated aromatic compound content; (c) withdrawing said solvent layer enriched in halogenated aromatic compound content from said settling zone and passing same into an electrolytic cell containing an anode and a cathode, said cell additionally containing an electrolyte soluble in said solvent and a source of hydrogen ions which does not include water; and (d) impressing an electric potential between said anode and said cathode to cathodically dechlorinate said aromatic compound.

Claim 2

A method for removing a halogenated aromatic compound from a liquid carrier contaminated therewith and for dehalogenating the halogenated aromatic compound removed from said liquid carrier, which comprises: (a) mixing said carrier contaminated with said halogenated aromatic compound with a solvent to form a mixture in a mixing zone for extracting said halogenated aromatic compound into said solvent, said solvent being immiscible with said carrier, stable under electrolysis conditions, and stable to chlorine; (b) withdrawing said mixture from said mixing zone and passing same into a settling zone for permitting said mixture to form a carrier layer diminished in halogenated aromatic compound content and a solvent layer enriched in halogenated aromatic compound content; (c) withdrawing said solvent layer enriched in halogenated aromatic compound content from said settling zone and passing same into an electrolytic cell containing an anode and a cathode, said cell additionally containing an electrolyte soluble in said solvent and a source of hydrogen ions which does not include water; and (d) impressing an electric potential between said anode and said cathode to cathodically dechlorinate said aromatic compound.

Claim 19

A method for removing polychlorinated biphenyls from an oil contaminated therewith and for dehalogenating said removed polychlorinated biphenyls, which comprises: (a) mixing said oil contaminated with said polychlorinated biphenyls with a solvent in an extraction zone for extracting said polychlorinated biphenyls into said solvent and permitting oil diminished in polychlorinated biphenyls to form an upper layer and solvent enriched in polychlorinated biphenyls to form a lower layer, said solvent comprising a cyclic ester which contains an electrolyte soluble therein; (b) withdrawing from said extraction zone, said oil diminished in polychlorinated biphenyls; (c) withdrawing from said extraction zone said solvent enriched in polychlorinated biphenyls and passing same into an electrolytic cell containing an anode and a cathode, said cathode comprising a material selected from the group consisting of mercury, zinc, lead, and tin, said anode comprising material selected from the group consisting of: carbon; and titanium coated with ruthenium dioxide; and (d) impressing an electric potential between said anode and said cathode while passing HCl through said solvent enriched in polychlorinated biphenyls to cathodically dechlorinate said polychlorinated biphenyls; (e) withdrawing by-product chlorine gas from said electrolytic cell; and (f) withdrawing said cell solvent containing dechlorinated biphenyls and said electrolyte and recycling same to said extraction zone.

Claim 20

A method for removing polychlorinated biphenyls from an oil contaminated therewith and for dehalogenating said removed polychlorinated biphenyls, which comprises: (a) mixing said oil contaminated with said polychlorinated biphenyls with a solvent in an extraction zone for extracting said polychlorinated biphenyls into said solvent and permitting oil diminished in polychlorinated biphenyls to form an upper layer and solvent enriched in polychlorinated biphenyls to form a lower layer, said solvent comprising a cyclic ester which contains an electrolyte soluble therein; (b) withdrawing from said extraction zone, said oil diminished in polychlorinated biphenyls; (c) withdrawing from said extraction zone said solvent enriched in polychlorinated biphenyls and passing same into an electrolytic cell containing an anode and a cathode, said cathode comprising a material selected from the group consisting of mercury, zinc, lead, and tin, said anode comprising material selected from the group consisting of: carbon; and titanium coated with ruthenium dioxide; and (d) impressing an electric potential between said anode and said cathode while passing HCl through said solvent enriched in polychlorinated biphenyls to cathodically dechlorinate said polychlorinated biphenyls; (e) withdrawing by-product chlorine gas from said electrolytic cell; and (f) withdrawing said cell solvent containing dechlorinated biphenyls and said electrolyte and recycling same to said extraction zone.