The formation potential and pathway of less-chlorinated PCBs, including mono- and di-chlorinated biphenyls, was investigated when PCBs contained in transformer oil were dechlorinated by commercial treatment. Potassium hydroxide with polyethylene glycol (PEG-600) was used for dechlorination of PCBs, and its destruction efficiency to whole 209 congeners of PCBs was 97.1% on average, ranging from 95.6% to 98.2%. Homologue of mono-CBs showed the negative destruction efficiencies, while those of highly-chlorinated ones through tri- to deca-CBs showed better efficiencies than about 99%. In particular, mono-chlorinated biphenyl in meta-position (#2) was about 34-47 times enriched after dechlorination, thus the reactivity seemed to be in the order of ortho-, para-, and meta-chorinated biphenyl. Co-planar PCBs' dechlorination efficiency was averaged as high as 99.4%, but 3,4,4',5-TeCB (#81) showed a relatively lower efficiency than others' in one case. Not only sodium metal but also alkaline metal such as potassium was thought of affecting the formation or enrichment of mono-chlorinated biphenyls produced by Wrutz-Fittig reaction as intermediates and products.

The dechlorination processes and efficiencies of PCBs contained in transformer dielectric oils were investigated on three commercial-treatment companies. Alkaline dispersion method was used for dechlorination of PCBs mainly using molten metallic sodium or potasium hydroxide with PEG, and its dechlorination efficiency to whole congeners of PCBs was 98.94% on average. Homologues of highly-chlorinated biphenyls showed better efficiencies than those of less chlorinated ones, especially mono-chlorinated biphenyl in para-position (#2) was about 37 times enriched after chemical treatment. Co-planar PCBs' dechlorination efficiency was averaged as high as 99.78%, but 3,3',4,4'-TeCB was relatively low as 96.5%. It was suggested for better dechlorination efficiency to remove the water in transformer oil prior to chemical reaction and to stir the reagents more rapidly when using alkaline dispersion method.