Bayarri, Nati, Lourdes Berdie, Juan M. Perez, Toni Ruiz, Charles Estevez. ALTERNATIVE REACTION CONDITIONS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF PCBs IN THE SYNTHESIS OF AZO PIGMENTS
Green Chemistry Department, Institut Universitari de Ciencia i Tecnologia (IUCT), Alvarez de Castro, 63. E-08100 Mollet del Valles, Spain (mediambient@iuct.com)
Polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) are by-products in the synthesis of azo pigments. Since the release of PCBs presents a major environmental issue due to their toxicity and their ability to concentrate in living organisms, it is desirable to find new chemical methodologies to avoid their formation. We report results concerning the identification and quantitation of PCB congeners found in the diazotization step of Pigment Red 2 (PR-2) synthesis. Several reaction parameters have been investigated to minimize their formation. In addition, we have demonstrated that PR-2 can be synthesized in ionic liquids. Reaction mixtures are being investigated for PCBs and the results will be presented.