Remediation of benzo( a)pyrene in contaminated sediments using peroxy-acid

Abstract

Release of benzo( a)pyrene is of an environmental concern due to its toxic nature. To elucidate the degradation of benzo( a)pyrene in lake sediments an advanced oxidation process (AOP) employing peroxy-acids as oxidizing agents was investigated. The sediments used in this study were collected from Lake Macatawa (Holland, MI) throughout the eastern basin and ranged in composition from sandy to silty-clay. Laboratory experiments were made by exposing spiked sediment samples to a 1:1:1 v/v/v mixture of hydrogen peroxide/acetic acid/deionized (DI) water solution. Analytical measurements were performed using gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. From the AOP experiments, transformation of benzo( a)pyrene was observed in both sediment types over a period of 24-h. The disappearance of the parent compound seemed more rapid with the use of propionic acid than with acetic acid, a behavior that is not yet well understood. The organic acid, DI water, and hydrogen peroxide controls did not demonstrate applicable degradation, suggesting that the disappearance of the parent compound was related to the peroxy-acid process.