Critical factors in chemical characterization for the evaluation of decontamination in solids using advanced oxidation.
Advanced oxidation technologies (AOT) have been applied to the treatment of numerous organic pollutants embedded in solid matrices (e.g., soil, sediments, sludge, etc.). Given potentially strong matrix-analyte interactions in solids, chemical characterization of both the target contaminants and their oxidation products is critical for the evaluation of any decontamination method. The success of AOT applications has been evaluated either directly (based on the removal of original contaminants, extent of mineralization, and/or formation of by-products), or indirectly, e.g., based on toxicity or chemical oxygen demand. Since indirect methods do not provide comprehensive understanding of the pollutants' fate, direct analytical approaches are covered in this review while focusing on sample preparation and detailed chromatographic characterization, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of these methods. The significance of sample preparation, in particular extraction, is discussed with respect to the nature of matrix-analyte interactions, as those may also affect the selection of the remediation method. The ultimate goal of this review is the presentation of methods employed to achieve mass balance closure, which is essential to ensure the full understanding of degradation pathways.
Kubatova
Alena
A
Chemistry Department, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202, USA. akubatova@chem.und.edu
D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003666:Decontamination; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D002244:Carbon