Degradation of Chlorinated Organic Compounds by Zero Valent Metals and an Electron carrier

The degradation of tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) by vitamin B$_{12}$, an electron mediator was examined when zero valent metals (ZVMs) were used as built electron donors. Dechlorination of PCE and TCE by iron and zinc in the presence of vitamin B$_{12}$ showed that the zinc and vitamin B$_{12}$ combination greatly enhances the reaction rates for both PCE and TCE, but iron and vitamin B$_{12}$ result in an increase in reactivity only for PCE degradation, not for TCE degradation in comparing with meta]s only. This result indicates vitamin B$_{12}$(I) Is active towards both PCE and TCE degradation while vitamin B$_{12}$(II) is active towards both PCE. Calculated activation energies for the dechlorination of PCE in the presence of Vitamin B$_{12}$ showed that vitamin B$_{12}$ lowered the activation energy about 40-60 kJ/㏖ for the both metals.the both metals.