The photodegradation of 4-chlorobiphenyl in hexane by UV irradiation has been investigated. For the first time, the UV spectral changes of 4-chlorobiphenyl and formation of chloride in the photoreaction have been discussed. The main pathway for the degradation of 4-chlorobiphenyl in hexane was dechlorination to follow a first order kinetics. The products were formed by the cleavage of carbon-chlorine bond to produce a biphenyl free radical, which then abstracted hydrogen from the solvent hexane to form biphenyl. With irradiation, biphenyl was also decomposed to lower hydrocarbons as the final products, which was further confirmed by the degradation experiment of biphenyl.

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