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Dechlorination and decomposition of Aroclor 1242 in real waste transformer oil using a nucleophilic material with a modified domestic microwave oven

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Abstract

This research was done to assess the dechlorination and decomposition of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in real waste transformer oil through a modified domestic microwave oven (MDMW). The influence of microwave power (200–1000 W), reaction time (30–600 s), polyethylene glycol (PEG) (1.5–7.5 g), iron powder (0.3–1.5 g), NaOH (0.3–1.5 g), and H2O (0.4–2 ml) were investigated on the decomposition efficiency of PCBs existing in real waste transformer oil with MDMW. Obtained data indicate that PEG and NaOH have the greatest influence on decomposition of PCBs; while, iron did not influence, and H2O decreased, the decomposition efficiency of PCBs. Experimental data also indicated that with the optimum amount of variables through a central composites design method (PEG = 5.34 g, NaOH = 1.17 g, Fe = 0.6 g, H2O = 0.8 ml and microwave power 800 W), 78 % of PCBs was degraded at a reaction time of about 6 min. In addition, the PCBs decomposition without using water increased up to 100 % in the reactor with the MDMW at 6 min. Accordingly, results showed that MDMW was a very efficient factor for PCBs decomposition from waste transformer oil. Also, using microwave irradiation, availability and inexpensive materials (PEG, NaOH), and iron suggest this method as a fast, effective, and cheap method for PCB decomposition of waste oils.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Bahram Kamarehie & Ahmad Joneidi Jafari

  2. Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Hassan Asilian Mahabadi

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  1. Bahram Kamarehie
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  2. Ahmad Joneidi Jafari
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  3. Hassan Asilian Mahabadi
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Correspondence to Hassan Asilian Mahabadi.

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Kamarehie, B., Jafari, A.J. & Mahabadi, H.A. Dechlorination and decomposition of Aroclor 1242 in real waste transformer oil using a nucleophilic material with a modified domestic microwave oven. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 16, 711–720 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-013-0185-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-013-0185-y

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