Ionic strength and buffer effects in the elimination reaction of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane

The rate constant for the abiotic reaction of 1,1,2,2,-tetrachloroethane in aqueous solution has been studied as a function of ionic strength, buffer composition, temperature, and pH. The rate of reaction is found to be independent of ionic strength and buffer composition, with the parent compound quantitatively converted into trichloroethene by a base mediated elimination reaction for values of pH > 3.5. The Arrhenius parameters for the elimination reaction are log10 A = 16.32 ± 0.40; Ea = 95.0 ± 2.5 kJ/mol. No evidence for a neutral hydrolysis reaction was found, indicating that the rate constant for such a reaction is <2 × 10−7 s−1 at 90°C.