METHOD FOR DETOXIFICATION OF POLYCHLOROBIPHENYLS Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: environment protection measures. SUBSTANCE: method is accomplished by catalytic liquid-phase dechlorination of polychlorobiphenyls. Process is carried out under carbon dioxide at 55-70 C and pressure 1-3 atm in aliphatic alcohol (mainly methanol) medium. Utilized are alkali and alkali-earth metal carbonates or hydroxides, or alcoholates in presence of catalytic system containing (i) cobalt carbonyl or alkali or alkali-earth metal salts of cobalt carbonyl and (ii) cocatalyst. The latter is olefin oxide of formula , where R represents hydrogen or alkyl of formula CnH_2nX, with n=1-5 and X being H or Cl. Catalyst is used with concentration of cobalt in alcohol solution 0.2-5.0% of the weight of polychlorobiphenyl and amount of cocatalyst corresponds to 10-80 mol per 1 mol cobalt. EFFECT: improved economical efficiency of process. 14 ex