Abstract
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a highly toxic chemical which can cause serious chronic and acute human diseases at low concentrations. It has been widely used in the wood preserving and biocide industries. As a result, it is frequently found at many superfund sites in both soil and groundwater. The objective of this thesis is to study mechanisms to dechlorinate PCP into less harmful derivatives. The method that we are interested in utilizes ammonium-amended clays to dechlorinate PCP. Based on the method proposed by Washburn (1995), we tried to develop practical procedures for field-scale use of ammonium-treated clay for the dechlorination of PCP. A total of seven clays were amended with ammonium ions and then exposed to PCP saturated water. GC/MS and GC/ECD techniques were used to analyze supernatants separated from mixture. The results showed minimal dechlorination of PCP by the ammonium-amended clays although the addition of the clays did decrease the PCP concentration by sorption.
Lu, Junying (1997). Dechlorination of Pentachlorophenol by ammonium amended clays: development of field applicable techniques. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1997 -THESIS -L864.