Radiation induced decomposition of halogenated organic compounds in water

Decomposition by ionizing radiations of p-chlorophenol and tetrachloroethylene in synthetic water samples at about 2 mg Cl L-1, has been studied on laboratory-scale experiments. Bicarbonate/carbonate and nitrate ions, at two concentration levels (20 and 200 mg HCO3- L-1 and 1 and 50 mg NO3- L-1) were added to synthetic samples in order to evaluate their influence on decomposition yield. At 5 kGy gamma dose level, a quantitative degradation of p-chlorophenol is obtained whereas only qualitative consideration can be drawn on tetracholoroethylene. Comparative study with respect to degradation of p-cholophenol solutions (about 2 mg Cl L-1) by gamma-rays and electron beam irradiation treatment at 0.5 kGy dose level,are in progress; preliminary results indicate that irradiation with gamma-rays seems to be more efficient in terms of removal efficiency respect to electron beams source.