Thermal stability of chloroform in the steam-condensate cycle of CANDU-PHW nuclear power plant

Analysis of samples taken at the Gentilly 2 (Québec) CANDU-PHW (CANadian Deuterium Uranium - Pressurized Heavy Water) plant after chlorination and demineralization revealed the presence of all four trihalomethanes (THMs) (CHCl₃, CHBrCl₂, CHBr₂Cl and CHBr₃) and other unidentified halogenated volatile compounds. Among the THMs, chloroform was the major contaminant. A study of its thermal stability in water at different temperatures confirmed the degradation of the CHCl₃ molecule according to the equation CHCl₃ + H₂O → CO + 3 HCl. The reaction follow a first order kinetics and has an activation energy of 100 kJ/mol. The estimated half-life is six seconds at 260°C, the maximum temperature of the steam-condensate cycle.