title: Influence of activated-carbon-supported transition metals on the decomposition of polychlorobiphenyls. Part I: Catalytic decomposition and kinetic analysis.
abstract: In this study, the synergism between activated carbon (AC) as a catalyst support and transition metals (TMs) is used to destroy low concentrations of PCBs. AC-supported TM catalysts were prepared according to two different methods: impregnation and ion exchange. Thermal reactions between 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-153) and catalysts generated using AC-supported Ni or Cu ion exchange were conducted under a N2 atmosphere and resulted in a decomposition efficiency > 99.0%. Decomposition efficiency of PCB-153, the residual PCB-153 distribution, and the fingerprint characteristics of the decomposition products are investigated. Important findings include: (i) establishing a ranking of TM reactivities with respect to PCB decomposition of: Ni > Cu > Zn > Fe, (ii) PCB degradation reactions proceed via adsorption, reaction, and desorption, (iii) for ion-exchange-type catalysts, the activation energy order was IRNi-C < IRCu-C < IRZn-C < IRFe-C, which matches the order of the catalytic effects of the catalyst.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. Electronic address: sunif@buaa.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yifei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Energy Materials and Devices, School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002384:Catalysis; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D007474:Ion Exchange; D007501:Iron; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002606:Charcoal; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D007501:Iron; C014024:2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl
keywords: Activated carbon; Decomposition mechanism; Ion-exchange resin; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Transition metal