Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Elucidating the Metabolism of 2,4-Dibromophenol in Plants
Published on: February 10, 2023
Degradation pathways of decabromodiphenyl ether during hydrothermal treatment
Kazutoshi Nose1, Shunji Hashimoto, Shin Takahashi
1National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan. nose.kazutoshi@nies.go.jp
Abstract:
The hydrothermal degradation pathways of decabromodiphenyl ether during hydrothermal treatment were investigated. After an initial "Heating time", the reaction runs were carried out at constant temperature (heating to 300 degrees C and keeping temperature) and pressure (8MPa) in a SUS316 stainless steel micro autoclave filled with water. Some decomposition of decabromodiphenyl ether was observed over 200 degrees C, and it was decomposed by more than 99% after 10 min at 300 degrees C. The reactivities of bromine on para and meta substituents were relatively high, while its reactivity on ortho bromine was extremely low. The formations of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PBDD/DFs) were observed in the early stages of the reactions at around 300 degrees C. The TCDD toxicity equivalency (TCDD-EQs) of the by-products was determined based on relative potencies (REPs EC(5TCDD)) with the Dioxin-Responsive-Chemical Activated Luciferase gene eXpression (DR-CALUX) bioassays technology. These results indicated that the risk of formation of PBDD/DFs in the hydrothermal degradation of deca-BDE was low, and it would be possible to reduce the TCDD-EQs value by adding some catalyst or alkali, or extending processing time.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Hydrolysis of Chlorobenzene to Phenol: Dow Process
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Biodeterioration
Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation reactions,...

