Reduction of chlorinated hydrocarbons with natural sunlight in a platinum‐catalyzed water photolysis system

Carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethylene in a water photolysis system [Pt colloid/Ru(bipy)3 2+/MV2+/EDTA] were reduced to methane and/or ethane during solar illumination. This paper demonstrates that solar energy can be used to excite electron-transfer reactions in the system, which results in the cleavage of water to H2 and OH-. Data suggest chlorinated hydrocarbons added to the system can be dechlorinated and subsequently reduced to low molecular weight hydrocarbons.

This document is the accepted manuscript version of a published work that appeared in final form in Environmental Science & Technology after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es00173a008. This article may be cited as: Wang, T. C., & Tan, C. K. (1988). Reduction of chlorinated hydrocarbons with natural sunlight in a platinum-catalyzed water photolysis system. Environmental Science and Technology, 22(8), 916-919. doi:10.1021/es00173a008

Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #641.