Debromination of hexabromobenzene by its co-grinding with CaO

Chemosphere. 2002 Sep;48(8):787-93. doi: 10.1016/s0045-6535(02)00138-8.

Abstract

A hexabromobenzene (HBB, C6Br6) powder was subjected to co-grinding with excess CaO powder in air using a planetary ball mill to investigate mechanochemical debromination of the HBB sample. The reaction proceeds smoothly with an increase in both grinding time and molar ratio of CaO addition. The co-grinding enables us to debrominate HBB, forming CaBr2, C and CaCO3 besides excess CaO in the product. CaBr2 in the product tends to absorb moisture from the atmosphere to form CaBr2 x nH2O. The reaction yield is quantitatively evaluated by measuring the amount of water-soluble bromide through water washing and the amount of unreacted HBB through toluene washing. It is found that almost 100% of debromination is achieved by 6 h grinding with the molar ratio kept constant at 2:1. Radicals are detected in the ground products, possibly due to rupture in the covalent bonds of C-C and C-Br in HBB.

MeSH terms

  • Bromine / chemistry*
  • Bromobenzenes / chemistry*
  • Calcium Compounds / chemistry
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Flame Retardants*
  • Oxides / chemistry
  • Toluene / chemistry

Substances

  • Bromobenzenes
  • Calcium Compounds
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Flame Retardants
  • Oxides
  • Toluene
  • lime
  • Bromine
  • hexabromobenzene