Chlorobenzenes and Chloronitrobenzenes Interaction with Iron (O)

Degradation of chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzenes and chloronitrobenzenes (ClB, x-Cl2B and x-ClNO2B) was tested by trying to make them react with metallic iron, Fe (0), in water solvent. The experiments consisted of optimizing the parameters of the reactions (like minimum mass of iron needed) and analytical detection conditions. Analytical techniques used were gas and liquid chromatography (GC and HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. No substances other than the initial ClB and x-Cl2B were detected in their tests with Fe (0) after shaking for periods of up to three days, although 10%weight average decreases in concentration were observed. The ClNO2B isomers were completely reduced into their respective chloroanilines in a minimum of 20 minutes. Nitrobenzene and the ortho and para isomers of ClNO2B showed pseudo-first order rate constants of 0.14 ± 0.01, 0.14 ± 0.01and 0.10 ± 0.01 min-1. The meta isomer behaved differently with a second order rate constant of 0.0068 ± 0.0003 ppm-1 min-1