Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can be effectively converted to bicyclohexyl in supercritical fluid carbon dioxide at 100 atm and 373 K by catalytic hydrogenation reactions using palladium nanoparticles stabilized in high-density polyethylene beads. The conversion process involves hydrodechlorination of PCBs to biphenyl followed by its hydrogenation to cyclohexylbenzene and finally to bicyclohexyl. The catalyst can be reused several dozen times without losing activity.

No abstract