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Removal of PCBs and HCB from contaminated solids using a novel successive self-propagated sintering process

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Abstract

Thermal treatments are the primary technologies used to remove persistent organic pollutants from contaminated solids. The high energy consumption during continuous heating, required cost for treating the exhaust gas, and potential formation of secondary pollutants during combustion have prevented their implementation. A novel successive self-propagated sintering process was proposed for removing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) from contaminated solids in a low-cost and environmentally friendly way. Nine laboratory-scale experiments involving different initial concentrations of pollutants and solid compositions were performed. Almost all PCBs (>99 %) and HCB (>97 %) were removed from solids under constant experimental conditions. Varying initial concentrations of PCBs and HCB in the contaminated solids did not influence the removal efficiency of the pollutants; however, the degradation efficiency of pollutants increased as their initial concentrations increased. Although varying levels of PCDD/Fs were detected in the effluent gas, they were all within the emission standard limit.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Open Research Foundation from Shanxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Soil Nutrient Resources (2013001), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41301342), and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2014 M550785).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Dayangfang 8, Beijing, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Long Zhao, Tengfei Zhu, Hong Hou, Xiaopeng Qin & Fasheng Li

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan

    Akihiko Terada & Masaaki Hosomi

Authors
  1. Long Zhao
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  2. Tengfei Zhu
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  3. Hong Hou
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  4. Xiaopeng Qin
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  5. Fasheng Li
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  6. Akihiko Terada
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  7. Masaaki Hosomi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Long Zhao.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Hongwen Sun

Highlights

A novel SSPS process for removing PCBs and HCB from solids was proposed.

Degradation efficiencies increased with higher concentrations of contaminants.

Dechlorination and degradation played important roles in the SSPS process.

PCDD/Fs in the effluent gas complied with the emission limits.

Composition of samples was an essential factor in the levels of PCDD/F in the gas.

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Zhao, L., Zhu, T., Hou, H. et al. Removal of PCBs and HCB from contaminated solids using a novel successive self-propagated sintering process. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 17527–17539 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4939-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4939-z

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