Catalytic dechlorination and detoxification of 1-(2-chlorophenyl) ethanol by Pd/Fe

1-(2-chlorophenyl) ethanol (CPE) is of health and environmental concern due to its toxicity and its use as an intermediate in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The current work deals with the catalytic reductive dechlorination and detoxification of CPE by Pd/Fe bimetal. CPE was effectively dechlorinated to 1-phenyl ethanol (PE) accompanied by the equivalent release of chloride. The extent of CPE dechlorination increased with temperature, Fe dosage and Pd loading. A decrease in solution pH increased CPE dechlorination, resulting presumably from an increase in hydrogen production. Under the specific conditions of 20 g/L Pd/Fe, 0.10% Pd (w/w) and initial pH 5-6, the CPE dechlorination was completed within 145 min. The dechlorination followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics with an activation energy of 56.7 kJ/mol. The results of toxicity testing showed that CPE was very toxic to Chlorella, whereas PE showed little toxicity. The toxicity of the reaction solution declined gradually and the promoting effects on Chlorella intensified consequently with the dechlorination process. Thus, the reductive dechlorination of CPE to PE by Pd/Fe was a detoxification process. It may be used to effectively reduce the toxicological effects of CPE-contaminated wastewater, thereby enhancing the performance of subsequent biological processes in wastewater treatment.