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IMPACT OF SUSPENDED PARTICULATES ON PCB VOLATILIZATION FROM SEDIMENTS
Citation:
Qi, S., M. T. Suidan, AND P R. de Percin*. IMPACT OF SUSPENDED PARTICULATES ON PCB VOLATILIZATION FROM SEDIMENTS. Presented at American Chemical Society, Philadelphia, PA, August 22 - 26, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
The objective of this research was to experimentally quantify the mass of PCBs that can be transported from PCB-contaminated suspended particulate to the air phase under various conditions as a means of evaluating the mechanism and importance of suspended particulates in volatilization of PCBs from sediments.
A simple microcosm of sediment, water and air that allows for one-dimensional transport of PCBs was used to conduct PCB transport studies. Two PCB congeners 4,4'-dichlorobephenyl and 2,2', 4,4', 5, 5'-hexachlorobiphenyl were selected as representative PCBs Substrates used in this study included a marine sediment, silica sand, and bentonite clay. For each substrate studied two conditions were monitored; in one the substrate was completely mixed while in the other condition the substrate was consolidated at the bottom of the microcosm.
Experimental results indicated a significant increase in volatilization of PCB when the sediment is suspended. Results also indicated the higher chlorinated congener has a lower volatilization rate. Furthermore, volatilization of PCB from different substrates were compared.