Experimental Evaluation and Scientific Study of Treatment Technologies for Dioxin Contaminated Soil

Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a by-product generated in small amounts during the manufacture of chlorinated compounds used in herbicides, insecticides and wood preservatives. Waste that contains concentrations of TCDD above 1 part per billion (ppb) is federally regulated as acutely hazardous. Inappropriate use, spills, leaks and dumping of herbicides, insecticides and wood preservatives containing TCDD have resulted in dioxin contaminated soil at numerous sites across the country. Project managers of dioxin contaminated soil sites must select an appropriate remediation technique. One that completely dechlorinates the TCDD and associated contaminants is preferred over ones that simply immobilize the contaminants. Many treatment technologies have been developed to dechlorinate toxic chlorinated organics, however, very few have been demonstrated to dechlorinate extremely stable tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. TA&T proposes to perform a survey of existing and emerging techniques plus demonstrate at the bench scale a very promising technology that has been proven to effect complete dechlorination of dioxin contaminated wood, soil and liquid herbicide formulations. The technique, Base Catalyzed Decomposition, is very appealing for commercialization because it is a safe, rapid and inexpensive method of completely destroying many halogenated organic wastes found at DoD, DoE and EPA Superfund Sites across the country.