Removal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS) from soils using additives: ambient air applications

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds from the soil samples taken from around a cement plant in Bursa-Turkey. Ambient air applications were carried out, and the effects of titanium dioxide (TiO2), diethylamine (DEA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the removal of PCBs were determined. Firstly, the soil samples without any additives were exposed to ambient air conditions for 24 hours. Then, TiO2, DEA and H2O2 were added to the soils at 1%, 10% and 20% of the soil dry weight. The PCB concentrations were measured using a gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Only 2% Σ82 PCB removal efficiency was obtained in the sample prepared without using additive. This value reached 86% when 10% DEA was used as an additive. It was concluded that sunlight was not effective in the degradation of PCBs in soil without the use of additives and DEA was the most efficient photocatalyst for this study. Among the all ambient air applications, the 4- and 5- chlorine homolog group compounds were removed at the maximum ratio, while the 8- and 9- chlorine homolog group showed the lowest removal efficiency.