Destruction of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on soil using cobalt-60 gamma radiation

Miscellaneous · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:6621531

Hilarides, Jr, R J

Chlorinated dioxins in soil or sediment are a persistent environmental problem. This research has shown that gamma radiation is both technically and economically feasible and approximately ninety-nine (99%) percent destruction of TCDD on a model soil has been achieved using gamma radiation at a dose of 800 KGy. In addition, this research has determined on a model soil the fundamental basis of interaction between the radiation and dioxin molecule, the initial pathway of destruction and identified controlling parameters and optimum ranges of parameter values. The general applicability of this model behavior is successfully tested in a native contaminated soil destroying nearly 75% of the TCDD at a dose of 450 KGy. The model soil, with constituents based on Superfund soil characteristics, was artificially contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) to 100 ppb. Cobalt-60 gamma radiation interacts with matter producing a suite of primary and secondary radicals which are capable of degrading chlorinated dioxins. The chemical transformation of a target contaminant (e.g. TCDD) will occur via direct and indirect radiation effects. This research established an experimental design to elucidate the dominant radiation effect. By-product analysis has shown that destruction occurs through successive reductive dechlorination and the use of radical scavengers to create either oxidizing or reducing reaction conditions failed to influence overall destruction or by-product distribution. These experimental results, coupled with theoretical calculations, prove that TCDD destruction in soil by gamma radiation occurs predominantly through direct radiation effects. Based on these experimental results, a number of reactor designs are proposed. A thorough technical and economic analysis of the proposed designs is presented to demonstrate that gamma radiation has the potential to be a real alternative to incineration.

• Research Organization: Notre Dame Univ., IN (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6621531
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
DIOXIN
DECHLORINATION
RADIOLYSIS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
SOILS
DECONTAMINATION
REMEDIAL ACTION
COBALT 60
GAMMA RADIATION
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION SOURCES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
COBALT ISOTOPES
DECOMPOSITION
DEHALOGENATION
ECONOMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOT
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
400600 - Radiation Chemistry