Evolution of Dichloromethane Utilization

Abstract

To date, some 2000 naturally occurring organohalogen compounds have been identified. Many of these are of biogenic origin, i.e. they are produced by bacteria, fungi, algae, plants and animals. Other halogenated compounds are discharged into the environment as the result of natural physical processes, such as forest fires and eruptions of volcanoes (Gribble 1994). The industrial solvent dichloromethane falls into the latter category. The compound is not known to be produced by organisms, but reportedly occurs in gasses emitted by volcanoes (Isidorov 1990). One thus would assume that volcanism, a process whose relevance for dichloromethane emission is unknown, and industrial chemical synthesis, which occurs at an estimated rate of 3 x 10⁵ tons per year, are the main sources of dichloromethane in the environment.