Applicability on Microwave Technology to the Remediation of PAHs(Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons) Contaminated Soil

PAHs(Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons)에 오염된 토양 회복공정으로서 마이크로파의 적용성 검토연구

The fate of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons(PAMs) in soil has drawn increasing concern due to their toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects. These compounds have been most commonly carried into the soil in solvent, as in a coal tar or cresote. This study has been focused on the applicability of microwave treatment of soils contaminated by PAHs. Studies have been conducted with soil(particle diameter $150~500{\mu}m$), which was spiked with naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene and pyrene, with different moisture contents. According to the results of the research, up to 95% removal efficiency of naphthalene was observed in 10% moisturized soil for five minutes microwave inducing And the removal efficiency of acenaphthene and fluorene were observed to be 88.9%, 67.2% in 30% moisturized soil, respectively. Due to the low vapor pressure, anthracene and pyrene showed the low removal efficiency. In case the powdered activated carbon was added to the soil as a sensitizer, anthracene and pyrene were decomposed into a various by-products. Decomposition rates of anthracene and pyrene were increased with incresing addition of a PAC to the soil. It is concluded that the developement of a microwave process to remediate soils contaminated with PAHs is foreseeable. But additional studies are also needed regarding continuous microwave heating process.