Sacred — A novel catalytic process for the environmental remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS)

The catalytic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been studied in aqueous media and contaminated soils. A novel SAmarium Catalyzed REDuctive dechlorination (SACRED) is demonstrated which is able to operate in a short timescale under mild conditions (ambient temperature; inert atmosphere) and with low energy requirements. Samarium (II) iodide, in the presence of hexamethylphosphoramide in tetrahydrofuran, catalyses hydrogenolytic dechlorination of highly chlorinated PCBs, generating biphenyl, mono- and dichlorinated biphenyls from Aroclor 1242. Catalysis is also effective in co-contaminated soils containing various PCBs and in the presence of up to 5% (w/w) moisture.