Dechlornations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (co-PCBs) were carried out in ethanol-water solution of NaOH in the presence of Pd/C catalyst with using of H-2. The dechlorination of octachlorodibenzo-p-furan (OCDF) proceeded with Pd/C under mild conditions (atmospheric pressure and <100 degrees C) to give a chlorine-free product, dibenzo-p-furan (DF), in high yield. After a reaction of 3 h at 50 degrees C, 98.8% of OCDF was degraded and the yield of DF was 85.2%. PCDD/Fs and co-PCBs extract from fly ash of commercial solid-waste incinerator was degraded in this catalytic system at 50 degrees C for 6 h. Pd/C exhibited excellent reaction activity in this catalytic system. In the dechlorination of environmental sample, the concentrations of toxic congeners and TEQ decreased to a promising level. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.