Electrochemical Reduction of Tetrachloromethane. Electrolytic Conversion to Chloroform

The feasibility of electrolytic removal of tetrachloromethane from industrial effluents has been investigated. A new method based on the electrochemical reductive dechlorination of CCl4 yielding chloroform is described. The main goal was not only to remove CCl4 but also to utilize the process for obtaining chloroform, which can be industrially reused. GC-MS analysis of the electrolysed samples showed that chloroform is the only product. Voltammetric experiments were made in order to select experimental conditions of the electrolysis. Using energetic and economic criteria, ethanol-water (1 : 4) and LiCl were found to be the optimum solvent and supporting electrolyte tested. No great differences were found while working at different pH values. Chronoamperometric and voltammetric experiments with convolution analysis showed low kf0 and α values for the reaction. A new differential pulse voltammetric peak deconvolution method was developed for an easier and faster analysis of the electrolysis products. Electrolysis experiments were carried out using both a bulk reactor and a through-flow cell. Thus, three different kinds of galvanostatic electrolyses were carried out. Under all conditions, CCl4 conversions ranging from 60 to 75% and good current efficiencies were obtained.