Extraction of pesticides from contaminated soil using supercritical carbon dioxide
The demand for processes to clean up contaminated soils without generating additional contaminants, such as hazardous solvents, is increasing. One approach to minimizing this problem is to use supercritical fluids like light hydrocarbons and CO{sub 2} to extract contaminants from soils. Gases exhibit unique properties under supercritical conditions. They retain the ability to diffuse through the interstitial spaces of solid materials, plus they have the solvating power of liquids. Some examples of extractions using SCFs are caffeine from coffee, cholesterol from eggs, drugs from plants, and nicotine from tobacco. Supercritical CO{sub 2} is an attractive, alternative extraction medium for removal of pesticides from soils. Carbon dioxide is readily available, relatively inexpensive, and if recycled, nonpolluting. Contaminants may be easily recovered by evaporating the CO{sub 2} into an expansion vessel. Supercritical fluid extraction technology is discussed and results are given for the extraction of atrazine, bentazon, alachlor, and permethrin from contaminated soil prepared in the laboratory. Initial studies show >95% removal for these pesticides.
- Research Organization:
- National Fertilizer and Environmental Research Center, Muscle Shoals, AL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 10102800
- Report Number(s):
- TVA-Bull-Z-294; CONF-9102188-3; ON: DE93002431
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International workshop on research in pesticide treatment/disposal/waste minimization,Cincinnati, OH (United States),26-28 Feb 1991; Other Information: PBD: [1991]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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