LASER INDUCED DESTRUCTION OF AROMATIC CHLORINATED ORGANICS IN WASTE WATERS

CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBON (CAH) MAKE UP A LARGE FRACTION OF THE ORGANIC CHEMICALS DESIGNATED AS TOXIC. THEY FORM THE BASIS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PESTICIDES, FUNGICIDES AND HERBICIDES; USUALLY END UP IN DILUTE CONCENTRATIONS IN WASTE WATER STREAMS RESULTING FROM THE MANUFACTURE AND/OR USE OF THE MATERIALS; PERSIST IN THE BIOSPHERE AS A RESULT OF THEIR SLOW BIODEGRADABILITY; AND CONCENTRATE IN THE BIOSPHERE AS A RESULT OF THEIR ENTRANCE INTO THE FOOD CHAIN AND THEIR HIGH SOLUBILITY IN ANIMAL FATS AND LIPIDS. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A MONOCHROMATIC LASER LIGHT SOURCE IN ENERGIZING THE OXIDATION OR POLYMERIZATION OF CAH'S DILUTE CONCENTRATIONS IN WATER. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS RESEARCH COULD SERVE AS A BASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTROL TECHNOLOGY TO DESTROY EXTREMELY TOXIC SPECIES EXISTING IN DILUTE CONCENTRATIONS IN WASTE WATER, REPLACING CURRENT ENERGY AND COST INTENSIVE TECHNOLOGIES DESIGNED TO CONCENTRATE AND DESTROY THESE SPECIES.