Chemical Reactions

In this article, we learn that a new process is being tested to reduce the toxicity of tailings ponds from oil sands production. The proposed method involves the chemical reaction of the toxins, chlorine, and sunlight and with the use of our knowledge about chemical reactions we can understand this real world application. In this case, single-displacement and decomposition reactions are being used to try to clean tailings ponds. It explains that the process used is the addition of energy that would trigger a chemical reaction in this new  "solar process", the sunlight and the UV rays provide that triggering energy that causes a beneficial reaction to take place.  In summary, a new process is being used to reduce the toxicity of harmful tailings ponds by 75-84% when usually, it takes around 20 years for a tailings pond to be able to be reclaimed, while it continually releases toxins into the surrounding ground. This is only possible by adding chlorine or bleach to the water in a tailings pond. When the sunlight then hits these chlorine particles, it causes them to form "hydroxyl radicals", which are much more efficient at getting rid of the toxins in the water. Then, the sunlight causes any remaining chlorine to decompose, minimizing any extra toxicity. However, the only issue is that sunlight cannot fully penetrate through the pond therefore it only reacts with the chlorine near the top. What do you think? Are there any possible faults with this project? Is there any way to reach the chlorine deeper in?

Article

http://gas2.org/2014/09/25/new-solar-process-speed-tar-sands-cleanup/