Abstract: A process for the electrochemical destruction of halogenated organic compounds provides for the reduction of such compounds to levels below 1 ppm with carbonaceous cathodes which are principally amorphous carbon sufficiently graphitized to enhance the rate of the reaction without substantial reduction in stability to electrochemical corrosion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing a halogenated aromatic compound (eg. a polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB) from a liquid carrier (eg. a transformer oil) contaminated therewith and for dehalogenating said removed halogenated aromatic compound. The process comprises mixing the contaminated carrier with a solvent for extracting halogenated aromatic compound from said carrier into said solvent and separating the contaminated solvent from the cleansed carrier. The contaminated solvent then is passed into an electrolytic cell for electrolytically dechlorinating said halogenated aromatic compound. The preferred cathode is mercury and the preferred anode is titanium coated with ruthenium dioxide. The cell additionally contains an electrolyte soluble in the solvent and a source of hydrogen ions (eg. HCl). The preferred solvent is a cyclic ester (eg. propylene carbonate).