Process for removing polychlorinated biphenyls from soil
The present invention relates to a method of removing polychlorinated biphenyls from soil. The polychlorinated biphenyls are extracted from the soil by employing a liquid organic solvent dispersed in water in the ratio of about 1:3 to 3:1. The organic solvent includes such materials as short-chain hydrocarbons including kerosene or gasoline which are immiscible with water and are nonpolar. The organic solvent has a greater affinity for the PCB's than the soil so as to extract the PCB's from the soil upon contact. The organic solvent phase is separated from the suspended soil and water phase and distilled for permitting the recycle of the organic solvent phase and the concentration of the PCB's in the remaining organic phase. The present process can be satisfactorily practiced with soil containing 10 to 20% petroleum-based oils and organic fluids such as used in transformers and cutting fluids, coolants and the like which contain PCB's. The subject method provides for the removal of a sufficient concentration of PCB's from the soil to provide the soil with a level of PCB's within the guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- None
- Application Number:
- ON: DE85017770
- OSTI ID:
- 5380849
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CLEANING
DECONTAMINATION
EXTRACTION
FUELS
GASOLINE
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
KEROSENE
LIQUID FUELS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION