Degradation of Environmental Contaminants with Water-Soluble Cobalt Catalysts: An Integrative Inorganic Chemistry Investigation

• Alexandra L. Evans ^[1] ; Reid E. Messersmith ^[1] ; David B. Green ^[1] ; Joseph M. Fritsch ^[1]
  1. [1] Pepperdine University

     Pepperdine University

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 88, Nº 2, 2011, págs. 204-208
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • We present an integrative laboratory investigation incorporating skills from inorganic chemistry, analytical instrumentation, and physical chemistry applied to a laboratory-scale model of the environmental problem of chlorinated ethylenes in groundwater. Perchloroethylene (C2Cl4, PCE) a common dry cleaning solvent, undergoes sequential replacement of Cl with H to trichloroethylene (C2HCl3) and subsequently cis-dichloroethylene (C2H2Cl2) through catalytic reductive dechlorination with water-soluble cobalt complexes. PCE degradation is monitored by gas chromatography and the first-order rate constants are determined. Experimental conditions may be varied to optimize chlorinated ethylene dechlorination and explore the important parameters governing degradation. Students work with reduction−oxidation active compounds and analyze “real-world” kinetic data sets.