Hydroxylated hydrocarbon phase detection

The majority of PCB photodegradation studies have been carried out in solution with organic or combined solvents preferred due to their low water solubility. Reductive dechlorination is the predominant photodegradation pathway in hydrocarbon solvents as well as alcohols. In aqueous media and alcohols photonucleophi 1 ic displacement reactions yielding phenols or alkoxy derivatives, respectively, also are detected. In the gas phase PCB are photochemically converted to hydroxylated derivatives (26). Photochemical reduction also is the major reaction pathway in thin films (7), solid phase (8) and on silica gel surfaces (9). 

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