Mechanochemical formation of chlorinated phenoxy radicals and their roles in the remediation of hexachlorobenzene contaminated soil

Abstract

Mechanochemical degradation (MCD) is a promising eco-friendly method to dispose persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Mechanically induced free-radical attack was thought to be one of the key elements in initiating and accelerating the dechlorination and degradation of POPs. In this study, mechanochemical formation of free-radicals and their roles in the remediation of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) contaminated soil were explored using both of experimental analysis and quantum chemical calculations. It was found that chlorinated phenoxy radicals(CB-O) can be produced in the milling process and they played a vital role in the dechlorination of HCB, based on the results of electron spin-resonance (ESR) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). Two transition states of mechanochemical reaction along the formation of pentachlorinated phenoxy radical (PeCB-O) were located, with the energy barriers of 39.4 and 3.4 kJ/mol. The localized orbital locator (LOL), Mayer bond order and topological analysis were also implemented to depict the process in detail. Free-radical attack dominated dechlorination pathway of HCB in the MCD process was also verified by the Fukui function analysis. The study on the mechanically-induced generation of free-radicals and their associated modes of action on the degradation of HCB will provide a deep insight into mechanochemical remediation mechanism of POPs contaminated soil.