Investigation of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Removal from Contaminated Soil Using Microwave-Generated Steam

Abstract

A feasibility study of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) removal from contaminated soils using microwave-generated steam (MGS) was performed. Initial experimental results show that MGS effectively removed PCBs from contaminated soil with an overall removal efficiency of greater than 98% at a steam-to-soil mass ratio of 3:1. Removal efficiency was found to be dependent upon the amount of steam employed, expressed as a mass ratio of steam applied to soil mass. Evaporation was identified as a major mechanism in removing PCBs from the soil. Rapid expansion and evaporation of pore water by microwave dielectric heating accelerated evaporation rates of PCB molecules. Increased solubility of PCBs into the heated aqueous phase is also hypothesized. Together these effects increase mass-transfer rates, thus enhancing removal of PCBs from the soil.

Remediation of soils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls by microwave-irradiated manganese dioxide

“…As a novel and efficient approach, microwave irradiation was used to treat soils contaminated with hazardous wastes [9][10][11], and this method yielded promising results. Abramovitch et al [12][13][14] used microwave energy to decompose polychlorinated aromatic compounds in soil with the assistance of microwave absorbents (Cu 2 O, graphite, or pencil lead) and NaOH.…”

Assessing Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Contamination in Indoor Dust among University Students in Ilorin, Nigeria

“…The pie chart [8] illustrates how much each element contributed to the overall amount of PCBs. These issues are brought on by the massive amounts of PCBs discharged into the environment and their carcinogenic potential, developmental toxicity, and adverse effects on human and wildlife health [9]. When exposed over an extended period, lipophilic, hydrophobic, and persistent PCBs can cause vulnerabilities in people's skin, liver, gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and brain system [10].…”

A review of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pollution in indoor air environment

“…Every year, there is about 1000 tons of PCBs entering into the environment, mainly by leaking in the process of transporting and improper disposal of PCBs production, together with the combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels (Choi et al, 2008a;Kim et al, 2011;Mari et al, 2008;Xing et al, 2005). These concerns rise not only due to the large amounts of PCBs released into the environment, but also because of their developmental toxicity, cancer risk, and dangers to human and wildlife health (Di and Chang, 2011). Because they are lipophilic, hydrophobic, and persistent, it is easy for PCBs to gather in fatty tissue through the food chain (Fitzgerald et al, 2007).…”