NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.
Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Radiolytic Dechlorination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Transformer Oil and in Marine Sediment
Published
Author(s)
M Chaychian, C A. Jones, Dianne L. Poster, Joseph Silverman, Pedatsur Neta, Robert E. Huie, M I. Al-Sheikhly
Abstract
Radiolytic dechlorination of PCBs in transformer oil and in marine sediments has been studied. At low PCB concentrations, complete degradation of the PCBs in transformer oil was achieved without degradation of the oil. Addition of an organic base, triethylamine, enhances the radiolytic dechlorination yield. The mechanism of dechlorination has been shown to involve electron transfer to PCBs from various aromatic radical anions formed in the irradiated oil. At high PCB concentrations, large amounts of triethylamine were necessary to achieve complete radiolytic dechlorination. Preliminary results on PCB-contaminated marine sediments demonstrate that additives such as 2-propanol increase the effectiveness of the electron beam treatment of the sediment.
Chaychian, M.
, Jones, C.
, Poster, D.
, Silverman, J.
, Neta, P.
, Huie, R.
and Al-Sheikhly, M.
(2002),
Radiolytic Dechlorination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Transformer Oil and in Marine Sediment, Radiation Physics and Chemistry
(Accessed October 10, 2025)