Mechanochemical remediation of PCB contaminated soil.
Soil contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is a ubiquitous problem in the world, which can cause significant risks to human health and the environment. Mechanochemical destruction (MCD) has been recognized as a promising technology for the destruction of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other organic molecules in both solid waste and contaminated soil. However, few studies have been published about the application of MCD technology for the remediation of PCB contaminated soil. In the present study, the feasibility of destroying PCBs in contaminated soil by co-grinding with and without additives in a planetary ball mill was investigated. After 4 h milling time, more than 96% of PCBs in contaminated soil samples were destroyed. The residual concentrations of PCBs decreased from 1000 mg/kg to below the provisional Basel Convention limit of less than 50 mg/kg. PCDD/F present in the original soil at levels of 4200 ng TEQ/kg was also destroyed with even a slightly higher destruction efficiency. Only minor dechlorinations of the PCBs were observed and the destruction of the hydrocarbon skeleton is proposed as the main degradation pathway of PCBs.
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKJLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, School of Environment, POPs Research Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China; State Key Laboratory of High Power Semiconductor Laser, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, PR China.
Haizhu
H
Wang
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKJLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, School of Environment, POPs Research Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
Jisu
J
Hwang
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKJLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, School of Environment, POPs Research Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China. Electronic address: huangjun@tsinghua.edu.cn.
Jun
J
Huang
School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, PR China.
Ying
Y
Xu
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKJLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, School of Environment, POPs Research Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
Gang
G
Yu
CSD IDEA (Beijing) Environmental Test & Analysis Co. Ltd, Beijing, 100192, PR China.
Wenchao
W
Li
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKJLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, School of Environment, POPs Research Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
Kunlun
K
Zhang
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKJLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, School of Environment, POPs Research Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
Kai
K
Liu
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKJLESPC), Beijing Key Laboratory for Emerging Organic Contaminants Control, School of Environment, POPs Research Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
Zhiguo
Z
Cao
State Key Laboratory of High Power Semiconductor Laser, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, PR China.
Xiaohui
X
Ma
State Key Laboratory of High Power Semiconductor Laser, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, PR China.
Zhipeng
Z
Wei
State Key Laboratory of High Power Semiconductor Laser, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, PR China.
Quhui
Q
Wang
D002681:China; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007616:Kaolin; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*
D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007616:Kaolin; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Dechlorination; Mechanochemical technology; PCB contaminated soil