Abstract |
The project was designed to verify in proof-of-principle studies, the efficacy of newly developed chemical reagents to destroy 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) dissolved in a solvent (toluene) and in contaminated soil samples from two locations in Missouri. The study demonstrated that alkali based polyethylene glycol reagents under ambient conditions can completely destroy within 48 hours 510 nanograms of TCDD dissolved in toluene. Also, in laboratory studies the APEG reagents significantly reduced within 21 days the 330 ppb of TCDD in a Missouri soil by 25 percent with a single APEG application and 68 percent with two APEG applications. This study has accomplished its proof-of-principle objective, however, further research is required and is to be initiated in FY-84 to establish optimal methods for applying APEGs to TCDD, PCBs and other toxic haloorganics in contaminated soils and waste materials. |