Radiolysis of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in aqueous solution by gamma radiation

Steady-state radiolysis experiments were performed to investigate the γ-irradiation treatment of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in aqueous solution. The effect of initial concentration on the PCP degradation was also investigated. The experimental results showed that γ-irradiation was able to degrade PCP in aqueous solution successfully, and the radiolytical degradation process of PCP could be described by the first-order kinetic model. When the initial concentration of PCP was 25 and 50 mg/L and the radiation dose was 4 and 6 kGy, respectively, the degradation efficiency was 100%. A luminescence bacterial test was used for evaluating the toxicity of the radiolytic intermediate products. Total detoxification of a 75 mg/L PCP solution could be achieved by carrying out the irradiation procedure at the dose of 15 kGy.