Solar destruction of hazardous chemicals

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Abstract
The objective of this work was to demonstrate that concentrated solar energy can be used to effectively destroy hazardous chemicals. The study involved the design and construction of a photochemical reactor that was used in a unique solar experiment that utilized concentrated sunlight to destroy a dioxin. Temperatures from 750 to 1000.degree. C were achieved along with solar flux levels from 500 to 1000 times normal sunlight (50-100 W/cm2). Field testing demonstrated that concentrated sunlight can effectively destroy a hazardous chemical (1,2,3,4-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin). Significant enhancements were also shown to exist due to the presence of solar photons of wavelength 300-400 nm.