Chemical Properties
Soft, sticky, light-yellow resin; approx-
imately 6.3 chlorine atoms per molecule.
Physical properties
Light yellow, sticky, soft, nonflammable resin with a faint odor
Uses
Secondary plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride; in polyester resins to increase strength of
fiberglass; varnish formulations to improve water and alkali resistance; as an insulator fluid for
electric condensers and as an additive in very high pressure lubricants. In fluorescent and highintensity
discharge ballasts manufactured prior to 1979 (U.S. EPA, 1998).
Also used in wire or cable coatings; impregnants in cotton and asbestos braided insulation;
coating on glass air filter pads, metal mesh to filter air and gas streams (Monsanto, 1960).
At a concentration of 5 to 25 wt %, increased the effective kill-life of the lindane spray up to 10
times. May have been used in chlordane and BHC insecticide formulations and in melt coatings
for paper and cloth. In various nitrocellulose lacquers to impart weather resistance, luster,
adhesion, and decreased burning rate. These lacquers may also contain dibutyl phthalate and/or
tricresyl phosphate. A typical paper lacquer may contain acetone, isobutyl acetate, ethanol, toluene
and up to 20 wt % PCB-1260 (Monsanto, 1960).
General Description
Viscous oily liquid.
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Reactivity Profile
Simple aromatic halogenated organic compounds are very unreactive. Reactivity generally decreases with increased degree of substitution of halogen for hydrogen atoms.
Health Hazard
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: Toxic irritant. Hazardous decomposition products.
Fire Hazard
Some may burn but none ignite readily. Containers may explode when heated. Some may be transported hot.
Safety Profile
Confirmed carcinogen
with carcinogenic and neoplastigenic data.
Moderately toxic by ingestion and skin
contact. Experimental reproductive effects.
Mutation data reported. When heated to
decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of
Cl-. Used in heat transfer, hydraulic fluids,
lubricants, and insecticides. See also
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS.
Environmental Fate
Biological. Reported degradation products by the microorganism Alcaligenes BM-2 for a
mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls include monohydroxychlorobiphenyl, 2-hydroxy-6-oxochlorophenylhexa-
2,4-dieonic acid, chlorobenzoic acid, chlorobenzoylpropionic acid, chlorophenylacetic
acid, and 3-chlorophenyl-2-chloropropenic acid (Yagi and Sudo, 1980). When
PCB-1260 was statically incubated in the dark at 25 °C with yeast extract and settled domestic
wastewater inoculum, no significant biodegradation was observed (Tabak et al., 1981).
Photolytic. PCB-1260 in a 90% acetonitrile/water solution containing 0.2 to 0.3 M sodium
borohydride and irradiated with UV light (λ = 254 nm) reacted to yield dechlorinated biphenyls.
After 2 h, about 75% of the congeners were destroyed. Without sodium borohydride, only 10% of
the congeners had reacted. Products identified by GC include biphenyl, 2-, 3- and 4-
chlorobiphenyl, six dichlorobiphenyls, three trichlorobiphenyls, 1-phenyl-1,4-cyclohexadiene, and
1-phenyl-3-cyclohexene (Epling et al., 1988).
Chemical/Physical. Zhang and Rusling (1993) evaluated the bicontinuous microemulsion of
surfactant/oil/water as a medium for the dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls by
electrochemical catalytic reduction. The microemulsion (20 mL) contained didodecyldimethylammonium
bromide, dodecane, and water at 21, 57, and 22 wt %, respectively. The catalyst used
was zinc phthalocyanine (4.5 nM). When PCB-1260 (100 mg), the emulsion and catalyst were
subjected to a current of mA/cm
2 on 11.2 cm
2 lead electrode for 18 h, a dechlorination yield of
>99.8 % was achieved. Reaction products included minor amounts of mono- and dichlorobiphenyls
(0.02 mg), biphenyl and reduced alkylbenzene derivatives.
