Persistent Organic Pollutants Management and Remediation

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that originate from man-made sources associated with the production, use, and disposal of certain organic chemicals. Many of the chemicals were produced commercially for pest and disease control, crop production and industrial use. Some of the POPs such as pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are intentionally produced, while others such as dioxins and furans are unintentional by-products of industrial processes or result from the combustion of organic chemicals. Over the last six decades, the unsustainable management of chemicals through their life cycles has resulted in widespread and massive contamination of the environment, biota and humans with POPs and other persistent toxic substances. Many techniques had been used for treating POPs. However, these techniques did not prove to be highly efficient due to the high operational costs involved. Recent studies found that, Guar gum and Xanthan gum are highly recommended as an option for treating POPs, because it is a biodegradable biopolymer, non-toxic, involved low treatment cost, easily available and is produced in abundance.