PCB Interactions with soil

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Abstract
The interaction between carcinogenic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and soil were examined. Both field samples and laboratory prepared samples were examined. Samples of soil were taken from the 0.7 m depth at a transformer producing industry at which PCB spills occurred. These were extracted to determine the PCB content. Concentrations ranged from 0.1-41.7 .mu.g PCB (as aroclor 1254)/g soil. One of the more highly contaminated soils was subsequently desorbed with water to determine the extent to which the release of PCB to solution occurred. Concentrations in the desorption water ranged from 5-29 .mu.g/l and corresponded to 0.11-0.55% desorption from the soil. A simulated PCB spill was performed in the laboratory. Aroclor 1242 was poured onto a soil sample. This yielded an equilibrium pore occupancy of approximately 50%, or a sorption capacity of about 0.07 g/g soil. The stability of this sorption was tested by desorbing with water. Initially, concentrations in the desorption water exceeded the solubility limit of Aroclor 1242 in water. Subsequent concentrations reached 45 .mu.g/l after 45 pore volumes of desorption water were applied. This corresponded to 99.97% retention on the soil. The extraction process was capable of recovering over 70% of the spilled Aroclor.

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