Description

• General description: Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene, PCE), is a chlorinated ethylene compound commonly used as a dry cleaning and degreasing solvent.[1] It shows IR transparency as it has no C–H bonds making it an ideal solvent for IR spectroscopy.[2][3] PCE is a man-made pollutant which is difficult to degrade.[4] It is a ground water contaminant[5] which has adverse effect on human health due to its potential toxicity and carcinogenicity.[6] Some of the methods proposed for its degradation are Fenton oxidation treatment,[7] reductive dehalogenation under methanogenic condition,[6] and reduction using zero valent metal ions.[5] One of the methods reported for its synthesis is by reacting ethylene dichloride and chlorine.[8]
• Application: Tetrachloroethylene may be used as a film-forming electrolyte additive in the manufacture of lithium ion batteries.[9] It may also be used as an extractant for the estimation of oil and grease in water by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).[2]