Isomer Shifting of Polychlorinated Biphenyls(PCBs) by Heat Treatment

Abstract Isomer shifting of polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) by heat treatment was inv estigated. A mixture of Japanese commercial PCBs; Kanechlor-400 or Kanechlor -600, was places in the ampoules and the solvent was evaporated. After being sealed, the ampoules were heated. Temperature, heating time and atmosphere w ere experimental parameters. And addition of copper powder as a catalyst and H2O as a source of hydrogen was also tried. Although heating degraded about 75% of all the isomers of PCBs, congener distribution was not altered by hea ting only whatever the conditions were. However in the presence of Cu, comme rcial PCBs were dechlorinated with producing the highly ortho chlorinated co ngeners.