70648-16-7

Usage

Uses

Used in Environmental Testing and Research:
1,3,4,7-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran is used as a standard in environmental testing and research for the measurement of dioxins in soil. This is due to its release from pesticide-surfactant formulations, which can lead to soil contamination. 1,3,4,7-TETRACHLORODIBENZOFURAN serves as a reference material to ensure accurate and reliable results in the analysis of dioxin levels, helping to assess the environmental impact and potential health risks associated with dioxin exposure.

InChI:InChI=1/C12H4Cl4O/c13-5-1-2-6-9(3-5)17-12-10(6)7(14)4-8(15)11(12)16/h1-4H

Upstream product

• 39485-83-1 2,2',4,4',6-pentachlorobiphenyl 
• 83704-36-3 1,3,4,6,7-pentachlorodibenzofuran 
• 56030-56-9 2,2',3,4,4',6-hexachlorobiphenyl 
• 190-26-1 ovalene 
• 227-09-8 1,2:8,9-dibenzopentacene 
• 191-07-1 Coronene 
• 198-55-0 PERYLENE 

Relevant academic research and scientific papers

Role of copper chloride in the formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans during incineration

Combustion experiments in a laboratory-scale fluidized-bed reactor were performed to elucidate the role of copper chloride in formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) during model waste incineration. The amounts of PCDDs and PCDFs formed, the homologue profiles, and the isomer distributions were measured in the flue gas from incineration of model wastes containing various levels of copper. A correlation was found between the Cu content of the waste and the proportion of each congener. An increase in copper enhanced the formation of certain congeners, showing that copper acts as a catalyst for formation of PCDDs and PCDFs. An increase in the copper content of the waste decreased the CO concentration in the flue gas and reduced the formation of PCDDs and PCDFs during incineration. This indicates that copper also works as an oxidation catalyst to promote combustion, leading to lower concentrations of products of incomplete combustion. It is indispensable to consider both roles of the catalyst, i.e., enhancement and suppression, in the formation of PCDDs and PCDFs during waste incineration, which are estimated separately from the isomer distributions and the amounts of PCDDs and PCDFs formed.

Natural formation of chlorinated phenols, dibenzo-p-dioxins, and dibenzofurans in soil of a Douglas fir forest

The natural formation of 4-MCP, 24/25- and 26-DCP, and 245-TrCP was detected in four selected areas of a rural Douglas fir forest where the humic layer was spiked in situ with a solution of Na37Cl and covered by an enclosure, after 1 year of incubation. Chlorinated phenols (CP) can be formed naturally from organic matter and inorganic chloride by either de novo synthesis or chloroperoxidase (CPO)-catalyzed chlorination. The natural CP congeners were found to be present in high concentrations in soil compared to the other congeners, except for 245-TrCP which was present in a relatively low concentration. This study did not reveal which source, natural or anthropogenic, caused the observed concentrations. Some 20 chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (CDD/F) were found to be formed naturally in soil of the Douglas fir forest; the formation of three 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners, 2378-TeCDD, 12378-PeCDD, and 123789-HxCDD, deserves special attention. A formation mechanism has been proposed which starts from naturally formed CP congeners and which probably involves peroxidase mediation. Chlorination of CDD/F congeners by the CPO-mediated reaction cannot be ruled out, but seems to be less likely due to the absence of several predicted congeners. The natural formation of 4-MCP, 24/25- and 26-DCP, and 245-TrCP was detected in four selected areas of a rural Douglas fir forest where the humic layer was spiked in situ with a solution of Na37Cl and covered by an enclosure, after 1 year of incubation. Chlorinated phenols (CP) can be formed naturally from organic matter and inorganic chloride by either de novo synthesis or chloroperoxidase (CPO)-catalyzed chlorination. The natural CP congeners were found to be present in high concentrations in soil compared to the other congeners, except for 245-TrCP which was present in a relatively low concentration. This study did not reveal which source, natural or anthropogenic, caused the observed concentrations. Some 20 chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (CDD/F) were found to be formed naturally in soil of the Douglas fir forest; the formation of three 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners, 2378-TeCDD, 12378-PeCDD, and 123789-HxCDD, deserves special attention. A formation mechanism has been proposed which starts from naturally formed CP congeners and which probably involves peroxidase mediation. Chlorination of CDD/F congeners by the CPO-mediated reaction cannot be ruled out, but seems to be less likely due to the absence of several predicted congeners.

De novo synthesis mechanism of polychlorinated dibenzofurans from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the characteristic isomers of polychlorinated naphthalenes

Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are known to be emitted from municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). Two formation paths for PCDD/Fs could mainly work, which are condensation of the precursors such as chlorophenols and 'de novo' formation from carbon. However the correlation between the chemical structure of carbon and the resulting PCDD/Fs still remains unknown. In this study, the PCDD/Fs formation from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and CuCl was examined at 400 under 10% O2. Coronene among the PAHs characteristically gave 1,2,8,9-T4CDF and the derivatives. These isomers clearly indicate that chlorination causes the cleavage of the C-C bonds in a coronene molecule and also that oxygen is easily incorporated from its outside to form 1,2,8,9-T4CDF. The symmetrical preformed structures in the coronene molecule enabled to amplify the de novo formation of the isomer. PCNs are also formed directly from these PAHs. Since there have been few reports on the formation mechanism of PCNs, this study will be a first step to know the whole formation paths. We also define the de novo synthesis as the breakdown reaction of a carbon matrix, since the word has been used without the precise definition.

Isomer distributions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans formed during de novo synthesis on incinerator fly ash

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) emitted from municipal waste incinerators appear to have a chlorination pattern that is quite constant across various samples and conditions. This suggested that these patterns may be controlled by thermodynamic properties of the individual PCDD/F congeners, such as the free Gibbs energy of formation (Δg°(f,T)). This would make prediction of the isomer composition of a particular sample (and hence its TEQ value) possible, based on values of ΔG°(f,T). A laboratory scale study was carried out with activated carbon on fly ash as the source of PCDD/F formation. Although it was found that the isomer distributions within homologues were independent of the reaction time (proof of thermodynamic control), other observations (lack of equilibrium/isomerization between isomers and lack of similarity between isomer distributions measured and predicted by ΔG°(f,T)) contradicted the possibility of thermodynamic control. Hence, this study could not confirm that de novo formation of PCDD/F could explain thermodynamically controlled isomer distributions in incinerators. Some recommendations for further work- time-based studies with precursors, isomerization studies with single congeners, and more data on ΔG°(f,T) values of PCDD/F-were made. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) emitted from municipal waste incinerators appear to have a chlorination pattern that is quite constant across various samples and conditions. This suggested that these patterns may be controlled by thermodynamic properties of the individual PCDD/F congeners, such as the free Gibbs energy of formation (ΔG°f,T). This would make prediction of the isomer composition of a particular sample (and hence its TEQ value) possible, based on values of ΔG°f,T. A laboratory scale study was carried out with activated carbon on fly ash as the source of PCDD/F formation. Although it was found that the isomer distributions within homologues were independent of the reaction time (proof of thermodynamic control), other observations (lack of equilibrium/isomerization between isomers and lack of similarity between isomer distributions measured and predicted by ΔG°f,T) contradicted the possibility of thermodynamic control. Hence, this study could not confirm that de novo formation of PCDD/F could explain thermodynamically controlled isomer distributions in incinerators. Some recommendations for further work - time-based studies with precursors, isomerization studies with single congeners, and more data on ΔG°f,T values of PCDD/F - were made.

Synthesis of the 38 Tetrachlorodibenzofuran Isomers and Identification by Capillary Column Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

The 38 positional isomers of tetrachlorodibenzofuran have been synthesized by pyrolysis of specific polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, ultraviolet photolysis of pentachlorodibenzofurans, and chlorination of trichlorodibenzofurans by aromatic substitution.The specificity of these reactions in combinatiuon with capillary column gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection has allowed each of these isomers to be identified based on their relative elution order.