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Fate of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil-plant systems

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Residue Reviews

Part of the book series: Residue Reviews ((RECT,volume 74))

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons which are thermally and chemically very stable. The PCBs represent a mixture of specific biphenyl hydrocarbons with varying degrees of chlorination. Substitution for hydrogen on the ring structure of biphenyl by chlorine gives rise to a number of compounds and isomers with 209 possible combinations (HUTZINGER et al.1974). The nomenclature of chlorobiphenyls is based on the position and extent of substitution on the biphenyl ring structure as shown in Figure 1. The available sites for chlorination are 2 to 6 in ring A and 2′ to 6′ in ring B. Thus, chlorobiphenyls may carry 1 to 10 chlorine atoms, depending on the degree of chlorination. Usually in commercial preparations, different mixtures of chlorobiphenyls are produced rather than a single pure compound. Typical characteristics of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are high thermal and chemical stability, low vapor pressure, high dielectric constant, high electric resistivity, high density, substantially hydrophobic, and high lipophilicity. With increasing chlorination from 18.6% to 80% these properties are accentuated. Molecular weights of PCBs range from 188 for monochlorobiphenyl to 494 for decachlorobiphenyl. Their melting points range from 34° to 198°C and boiling points are usually 267°C. Appearances of PCBs range from clear mobile oils to light yellow, sticky, solid resins. PCBs are quite soluble in nonionic surfactants such as ethylene oxide, Tween 201 and Tween 80.

Paper No. 6288 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, N.C. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of the products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned. This research was supported in part by the Water Resources Research Grant No. B-122-NC through a matching grant program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27650, USA

    D. Pal & M. R. Overcash

  2. Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27650, USA

    J. B. Weber

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  1. D. Pal
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  2. J. B. Weber
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California, 92521, USA

    Francis A. Gunther

  2. Riverside, California, USA

    Jane Davies Gunther

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Pal, D., Weber, J.B., Overcash, M.R. (1980). Fate of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil-plant systems. In: Gunther, F.A., Gunther, J.D. (eds) Residue Reviews. Residue Reviews, vol 74. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6096-7_2

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