Effect of Chlorinated Biphenyl Admixtures on Transformer Oil Radiolysis

Abstract

Abstract—A comparative study has been carried out on the gamma-radiolysis of waste transformer oil and oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as impurities. To this end, changes in the pH and the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and PCB isomers as a function of the absorbed dose have been studied. The waste transformer oil has been investigated with and without the addition of the Sovtol-10 PCB oil. It has been established that the radiolysis of the transformer oil containing admixtures of chlorinated biphenyls in results in stronger oxidation of the oil the presence of dissolved oxygen (formation of H₂O₂ and CO₂, a decrease in pH value) and oxygen has a negative effect on the radiolytic degradation of chlorinated biphenyls.