Decomposition of carbon tetrachloride and mono-Chlorobenzen by using basic molten salts

The decomposition of simple organic chlorides (carbon tetrachloride, CCl₄ and mono-chlorobenzen, C₆H₅CI) as the imitation substances of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) were investigated by using basic molten salts with a low melting point and oxidizing ability in order to establish a safe, simple and highly efficient decomposition process. CCl ₄ or C₆H₅Cl was injected together with an inert carrier gas (Ar) into basic molten salts (KOH-K₂CO₃) at 673-983 K, and the residual concentration in the exhaust was measured. The decomposition efficiency of CCl₄ strongly depended on the reaction temperature and the immersion depth of gas injection nozzle (related to the residence time of CCl₄bubble in the molten salts). The decomposition efficiency reached to very high of 99.9% with KOH-20 mol% K₂CO ₃at 973 K. On the other hand, the decomposition efficiency of C ₆H₅Cl was not so high (97%) in the inert atmosphere condition applied in this study.