New approaches to the decontamination of hazardous wastes
The Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Laboratory is currently supporting a number of research projects to develop innovative chemical and biological systems capable of detoxifying hazardous wastes. Recent emphasis has been on the destruction of chlorinated dioxins, chlorinated dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, and related organic compounds in waste liquids and in polluted soils. Using a chemical reagent based upon the reaction of an alkaline metal hydroxide and a polyethylene glycol, over 17,000 gallons of industrial wastes, containing chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans at concentrations varying from 400 to 84,000 ppm, were decontaminated to below detection levels (1 ppb in the case of the tetra-dioxins). Bioassay tests have shown that the byproducts produced from the reaction do not bioaccumulate or bioconcentrate, they do not cause mutagenicity, nor are they toxic to aquatic organisms or mammals. The equipment used for these tests is now being modified for use on contaminated soils.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 5802968
- Report Number(s):
- PB-88-106364/XAB; EPA-600/D-87/299
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evaluation of acute bioassays for assessing toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soils
State-of-the-art review: PCDDs ad PCDFs in utility PCB fluid. Final report. [196 references]
Related Subjects
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
42 ENGINEERING
420900 -- Engineering-- Waste Processing Plants & Equipment-- (-1989)
BIOASSAY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DETOXIFICATION
DIOXIN
FURANS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LIQUID WASTES
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
SOILS
WASTES