MSR Reduction of Hexachlorobenzene

This paper deals with the mechanochemical degradation of hexachlorobenzene over Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ba, Ti, and W. Apart from the mixtures containing Ti and W, the other systems react in a combustive mode leading to the chlorides and the carbides of the inorganic substrates. Reaction stoichiometries and heats were experimentally determined. The activation time required to ignite the reaction decreases from Li to Mg and correlates with mechanical properties, such as the shear modulus and the mineralogical hardness, of the reducing agents. Physicochemical characteristics and electronic properties of the metallic substrates were then considered. A close correlation was observed when the ignition time of alkaline and alkaline earth metals was plotted as a function of the ionization energy. It was suggested that the reaction can spread out only when a given deformation mixing level and sufficient interfacial area have been reached due to milling. This condition depends on the reducing capability of the metallic substrate and on the mechanical qualities of the reacting blend.