by Wong Kin-hang. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-127). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / by Wong Kin-hang. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstracts --- p.ii / Contents --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.ix / List of Tables --- p.x / Abbreviations --- p.xi / Chemical Equations --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Poly chlorinated biphenyls --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Characteristics of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Use of polychlorinated biphenyls --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- World-wide production of polychlorinated biphenyls --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Polychlorinated biphenyls in the environment --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls --- p.12 / Chapter I. --- Mechanism --- p.12 / Chapter II. --- Toxicity towards plant and animals --- p.13 / Chapter III. --- Toxicity towards human --- p.14 / Chapter IV. --- Enzymatic induction by PCBs --- p.14 / Chapter V. --- Carcinogenicity of PCBs --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2 --- Treatments of pollutant --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Physical treatment --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Chemical treatment --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Biological treatment --- p.22 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Objectives --- p.35 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Materials and methods --- p.36 / Chapter 3.1 --- Chemical reagents --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2 --- Photocatalytic oxidation reactor --- p.36 / Chapter 3.3 --- Separation and determination of eight PCB congeners --- p.39 / Chapter 3.4 --- Determination of tetra-CB concentration --- p.40 / Chapter 3.5 --- Determination of PCO intermediates and products --- p.41 / Chapter 3.6 --- Optimisation of reaction conditions for UV-PCO in batch system --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Control experiments and effect of initial titanium dioxide concentration --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Effect of initial hydrogen dioxide concentration and UV intensity --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Effect of initial titanium dioxide concentration and initial pH --- p.45 / Chapter 3.7 --- Estimation of tetra-CB degradation pathway by photocatalytic oxidation --- p.45 / Chapter 3.8 --- Evaluation for the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide and toxicity change of tetra-CB during PCO by Microtox® test --- p.45 / Chapter 3.9 --- Determination of H202 concentration after PCO --- p.47 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results --- p.50 / Chapter 4.1 --- Separation and determination of eight PCB congeners --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2 --- Photocatalytic oxidation of mono-CB --- p.50 / Chapter 4.3 --- Determination of tetra-CB --- p.55 / Chapter 4.4 --- Optimisation of reaction conditions for UV-PCO in batch system --- p.56 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Control experiments and effects of initial titanium dioxide concentration --- p.56 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Effect of initial hydrogen peroxide concentration and UV intensity --- p.56 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Effect of initial titanium dioxide concentration and initial pH --- p.60 / Chapter 4.5 --- Estimation of tetra-CB degradation pathway by photocatalytic oxidation --- p.71 / Chapter 4.6 --- Evaluation for the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide and toxicity change of tetra-CB by Microtox® test --- p.72 / Chapter 4.7 --- Determination of H202 concentration after PCO --- p.72 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion --- p.89 / Chapter 5.1 --- Separation and determination of eight PCB congeners --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2 --- Photocatalytic oxidation of mono-CB --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3 --- Determination of tetra-CB --- p.90 / Chapter 5.4 --- Optimisation of reaction conditions for UV-PCO in batch system --- p.90 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Control experiments and effects of initial titanium dioxide concentration --- p.91 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Effect of initial hydrogen peroxide concentration and UV intensity --- p.91 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Effect of initial titanium dioxide concentration and initial pH --- p.93 / Chapter 5.5 --- Estimation of tetra-CB degradation pathway by photocatalytic oxidation --- p.95 / Chapter 5.6 --- Evaluation for the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide and toxicity change of tetra-CB by Microtox® test --- p.96 / Chapter 5.7 --- Determination of H202 concentration after PCO --- p.97 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions --- p.98 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- References --- p.99