Remediation of Contaminated Soils with PCBs Using an Integrated Treatment: Desorption and Oxidation

During most of the past century, large quantities of substances were produced and utilized that subsequently proved harmful. This is the case with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which only became prohibited by law in the 1970s. As a result of their physicochemical properties, these substances are...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental engineering (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2007-05, Vol.133 (5), p.541-547
Main Authors: Riaza-Frutos, A, Quiroga, J. M, Manzano, M. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Decontamination. Miscellaneous
Exact sciences and technology
Pollution
Soil and sediments pollution
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Summary:During most of the past century, large quantities of substances were produced and utilized that subsequently proved harmful. This is the case with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which only became prohibited by law in the 1970s. As a result of their physicochemical properties, these substances are now present everywhere, although they are mainly found in soils, since they are hydrophobic in character. The present study evaluates an innovatory treatment for the remediation ex situ of soils contaminated by PCBs. This treatment consists of a first stage of desorption using a surfactant agent, followed by a second stage of oxidation with the object of transforming the PCBs into innocuous substances through successive oxidations using the photo-Fenton process. The results obtained (87% remediation in the desorption and 100% in the oxidation stages) show this new treatment to be a highly effective alternative, which does not generate dangerous residues of any type.
ISSN:0733-9372
1943-7870
DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2007)133:5(541)