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Remediation of PCB‐Contaminated Soil Using Extraction and Destruction: Bench‐Scale Test
Author(s) -
Aluani Sidney,
Spilborghs Maria Cristina F.,
Kim Rebecca H. H.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
remediation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.762
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6831
pISSN - 1051-5658
DOI - 10.1002/rem.21478
Subject(s) - environmental remediation , contamination , environmental science , environmental chemistry , extraction (chemistry) , soil contamination , soil test , matrix (chemical analysis) , waste management , environmental engineering , soil water , chemistry , soil science , engineering , chromatography , ecology , biology
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a persistent environmental issue worldwide. This study summarizes the results obtained from a bench‐scale test of remediating PCB‐impacted soil. The research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of extracting the PCB Aroclor 1260 from soil, transferring it to a liquid matrix, and then treating the PCB‐containing liquid using an Activated Metal Treatment System, a technology developed by NASA based on zero valent magnesium (ZVMg). The soil was from a former electrical plant area impacted by PCBs. The initial concentration of untreated soil contained an average of 4.7 ± 0.15 mg/kg of Aroclor 1260. The results showed that the mass transfer phenomena is possible using ethanol as a liquid matrix, reaching transfer results up to 93 percent. The ZVMg enabled the destruction of the Aroclor 1260, which reached 20 percent without any buildup of undesirable by‐products, such as less chlorinated PCBs. ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.