Hypochlorous acid-activated carbon: an oxidizing agent capable of producing hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls.
Granular activated carbon (GAC), in the presence of dilute aqueous hypochlorite solutions typical of those used in water treatment, was converted to a reagent capable of carrying out free-radical coupling reactions and other oxidations of dilute aqueous solutions of phenols. The products included biphenyls with chlorine and hydroxyl substitution (hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls). For example, 2,4-dichlorophenol, a common constituent of wastewaters and also natural waters treated with hypochlorite, was converted to 3,5,5'trichloro-2,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl and several related compounds in significant amounts. It is possible that these products pose more of a health hazard than either the starting phenols or the unhydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyl derivatives.
D002244:Carbon; D004202:Disinfectants; D005609:Free Radicals; D006900:Hydroxylation; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D004202:Disinfectants; D005609:Free Radicals; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid; D002244:Carbon; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls