PROCESS FOR THE REDUCTIVE DEHALOGENATION OF POLYHALOAROMATICS USING CALCIUM AND METHANOL

摘要

A process for the reductive dehalogenation of halogenated aromatics. The process comprises reacting halogenated aromatics with sodium or calcium in the presence of a lower alcohol selected from the group comprising methanol, ethanol or isopropanol and mixtures thereof in order to convert the halogenated aromatics to hydrogenated aromatics. The halogenated aromatics are preferably reacted with sodium in the presence of methanol under reaction conditions whereby said sodium is in molten form. The preferred starting sodium/methanol/halogen molar ratio ranges from 30-40/15-20/1. The process is particularly useful for dechlorinating polychlorinated biphenyls found in electrical transformer oil.