Alumina Offers Several Advantages Over Other PCB Removal
Methods
Alumina is
superior for PCB purification, cleanup and removal
Increasingly alumina is providing the answer
for environmental PCB isolation and removal.
In South Korea alone there have been
approximately 300,000 waste transformers containing PCB
dielectric fluids discharged during the past decade. The
conventional approach to the discharge of these fluids has been
through high temperature controlled incineration. However highly
toxic byproducts from incineration include polychlorinated
dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs).
Korean researchers at the Andong National
University (Bulletin Korean Chemistry Society 2007, Vol. 28, No
4) have been able to dechlorinate transformer oil containing
commercial PCB mixtures by treatment with polyethylene glycol
600, potassium hydroxide and aluminum along with different
reaction temperatures and times. The concentrations of potassium
hydroxide and aluminum relative to oil were 3% and 2%
respectively on a weight to weight basis. The PCB containing
product class used in transformers is askarel, which consists of
60% Aroclor 1260/40% trichlorobenzene (Type A) and 70%
Aroclor1254/30% trichlorobenzene (type B). By increasing the
reaction temperature and time to 150 degrees C and 240 minutes,
the removal efficiency of PCBs reached 99.99% or better. The
polyethylene glycol acts as a nucleophile in the reaction with
PCBs under basic conditions. Furthermore, this process avoids
the use of potentially dangerous alkali metals and alkali metal
oxides which are commonly used as catalysts. Aluminum plays the
key role in accelerating dechlorination. The removal of PCBs in
transformer oil by chemical reaction is highly dependent on the
reaction temperature.
The conclusion of these researchers is that
the complete destruction of PCBs in transformer oil can be
achieved by conducting the reaction for a longer period of time
at higher temperatures. Read article
Dynamic
Adsorbents Provides the Best Alumina on the Market for PCB
Removal
Dynamic Adsorbents Inc. (DAI) has formulated
a specialty proprietary adsorbent (Alumina C) allowing PCBs to
be removed safely from contaminated sites. Alumina C is a
chemically and physically modified form of alumina with highly
favorable properties for the collection and isolation of PCBs.
Using industrial size batch chromatography, PCB contaminated
soil and other environmental waste is passed through columns
packed with Alumina C. PCBs are separated out through the
adsorption process which occurs when PCBs come into contact with
Alumina C. The captured PCBs remain in the column attached to
the alumina. This bonded material then contains virtually all of
the PCB material and the alumina bonded adsorbent may be
disposed of using appropriate destruction technology. The use of
this potent adsorbent serves as an efficient means to gather
PCBs in one location, subsequently aiding destruction
technologies which may subsequently be used to dechlorinate
these hazardous aromatic compounds.
Using Alumina C for PCB removal had been
demonstrated to be advantageous. Batch chromatographic
purification systems are transportable and are taken directly to
the contaminated sites in need of clean-up. Using this technique
there is no need to build a physical plant eliminating high
operating costs. Energy requirements are low, with no high
pressure or high temperatures being utilized. PCBs collected
(eluted) and bound to Alumina C are gathered in one location and
then safely carried to their final disposal site. While
chromatography uses batch processing rather than continuous
in-line processing this technique is proving to provide superior
separation capabilities.
How is DAI activated alumina
superior to other
alumina on the
market?
Dynamic Adsorbents
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