title: Polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins and -furans detoxification of soil promoted by K-polyethylene glycol technology.
abstract: The detoxification of soil and sludge from polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins (PCDD) and -furans (PCDF) has been achieved by means of the K-PEG technology based on the in situ formation of the complex between polyethylene glycol (PEG) and KOH. Dechlorination of the pollutants was promoted by heating the samples up to 250 degrees C, above the PEG thermal degradation onset (>140 degrees C). As a consequence, a bursting evolution of hydrogen was observed which gave a reductive character to the reaction media and atmosphere. PCDD and PCDF chlorine atoms were progressively eliminated by a hydrodehalogenation reaction. After optimisation of the experimental parameters, the toxicity index was lowered more than 98%. In order to gain insight on the mechanism of the reaction, PEG thermal degradation chemistry was studied in some detail. The analytical results (mainly by mass and IR spectroscopy) suggest that PEG has an essential role on promoting the dehalogenation reaction by acting as a phase transfer agent as well as a source of hydride.
authors.affiliation: Polimeri Europa, S.p.A., Centro Ricerche Istituto G. Donegani, via Fauser 4, 28100 Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vajna de Pava
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Battistel
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans / Q000737:chemistry*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D007220:Industrial Waste; D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011188:Potassium