Chlorinated aliphatic compounds chemistry

Liang, L-N. Grbif-Galif, D. (1993). Biotransformation of chlorinated aliphatic solvents in the presence of aromatic compounds under methanogenic conditions. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 12, 1377-93. 

Chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) refer to the substitution of one or more hydrogen in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives by chlorine. COCs are widely used in the fields of chemistry, medicine, electronics, pesticides, etc. Many COCs are endocrine disturbance substances, show carcinogenic effects, and have been listed as priority pollutants by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). When released into the environment, COCs are transported in both air and water. However, COCs are chemically stable and difficult to destroy, and they are eventually deposited in soils and sediments due to their hydrophobic-ity. Soils and sediments contaminated with COCs are long-term sources of pollutants and pose great threats to human health and ecosystems. Therefore, remediation of these contaminated soils and sediments is of great importance. 

Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds. The principal element associated with carbon is these compounds is hydrogen. All the compounds of interest here contain these elements, while oxygen, nitrogen and the halogens (principally chlorine) are present in some compounds. This chapter is concerned solely with aliphatic compounds - those deriving from fatty materials. The simplest of these compounds contain carbon and hydrogen only. 

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