Polychlorinated Biphenyls Remediation Research Articles

The catalytic hydro-dechlorination of 2, 4, 4’ trichlorobiphenyl at mild temperatures and atmospheric pressure

ABSTRACT Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including all 209 congeners, are designated as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) due to their high toxicity and bioaccumulation in human bodies and the ecosystem. The need for PCB remediation still remains long after their production ban. In this study, a catalytic hydro-dechlorination (HDC) method was employed to dechlorinate 2,4,4’-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 28), a congener found ubiquitously in multiple environmental media. The HDC of PCB 28 was experimentally studied at mild temperatures viz. ~20, 50, and ~ 77°C and atmospheric pressure. Et3N (triethylamine) was added as a co-catalyst. The dechlorination rates increased with temperature as well as Et3N dosage, and the HDC pathway was hypothesized based on the product and intermediates observed. The less chlorinated intermediates suggested that the position of the chlorine strongly impacted HDC rates, and the preference of HDC at para positions can be orders of magnitudes higher than the ortho. The activation energy, was estimated in the range of 12.4-13.9 kJ/mole, indicating a diffusion-controlled HDC system. Implication Statement The remediation need for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) still remains long after their production ban around the world. The development of low cost methods is highly desirable, especially for developing countries, in response to the Stockholm Convention. In this study, the dechorination of a ubiquitously present PCB congener was studied using a catalytic hydro-dechlorination (HDC) method in low temperatures up to ~ 77°C and was able to achieve near 100% dechlorination in six hours. Results indicated that the HDC process can be performed under mild temperatures and atmospheric conditions and can be a potential solution to real world PCB contamination issues.

PCB decomposition promoted by sugarcane bagasse organic waste

This work aimed to explore the changes in the bacterial community composition of soil contaminated with high concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) treated by biostimulation with sugarcane bagasse. Non-sterilized soil samples were spiked with transformer oil contaminated with PCB 18, 52, 66, 87,101, 110, 153, 180, and 187. The biostimulation experiment was performed by mixing non-sterilized PCB-contaminated soil with sterilized sugarcane bagasse and incubating the mixture 90 d in darkness at 25 ± 1 °C. The results showed that percentage removal of 88 % was similar for all PCB congeners in biostimulated soil, independently of their degree of chlorination, and it was accompanied by a significant change in bacterial community composition. Relative abundance of the bacterial communities at the phylum level in biostimulation treatment showed they were conquered by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, followed by Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria.Bacteriall diversity increased in the biostimulation system due to the enrichment in genera possessing PCB remediation capacity which demonstrated the boosting potential of sugarcane bagasse in soil with high concentration of PCBs.

Remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) polluted soil using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma: Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and produced dioxins

Soil contaminated by PCBs from the electronic processing industries has attracted global concern because of their potentially persistent risks to human and ecological health. In this study, remediation of PCBs polluted soil using dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD) focused on 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB77) and 2,2′-dichlorobiphenyl (PCB4). About 90 % of PCB77 and PCB4 were degraded under input power of 120 W within 30 min. The carbon dioxide mineralization of PCB77 achieved at 18.2 % in 10 min treatment. Greater PCBs degradation was obtained with higher input power, lower moisture content, weaker acidity and presence of oxygenated gas. Increasing initial concentration of PCBs had no significant effect on PCB77 degradation, but contributed to PCB4 removal. PCBs degradation reactions were initiated by high-energy electrons. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) played major roles in PCBs degradation, which was also promoted by reactive nitrogen species (RNS) such as peroxynitrous radicals (HOONO). Multiple spectroscopies showed that chlorine radicals participated in PCBs degradation reactions. Chlorine substitution, ring-opening and bridge cleavage reactions were the main degradation pathways for PCB77. The production and re-degradation of trace dioxin-like substances ensured the safety of DBD use in the remediation of PCBs-contaminated soils.

Myco- and phyco-remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls in the environment: a review.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic organic compounds and pose serious threats to environment and public health. PCBs still exist in different environments such as air, water, soil, and sediments even on ban. This review summarizes the phyco- and myco-remediation technologies developed to detoxify the PCB-polluted sites. It was found that algae mostly use bioaccumulation to biodegradation strategies to reclaim the environment. As bio-accumulator, Ulva rigida C. Agardh has been best at 25ng/g dry wt to remove PCBs. Evidently, Anabaena PD-1 is the only known PCB degrading alga and efficiently degrade Aroclor 1254 and dioxin-like PCBs up to 84.4% and 37.4% to 68.4%, respectively. The review suggested that factors such as choice of algal strains, response of microalgae, biomass, the rate of growth, and cost-effective cultivation conditions significantly influence the remediation of PCBs. Furthermore, the Anabaena sp. linA gene of Pseudomonas paucimobilis Holmes UT26 showed enhanced efficiency. Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm is the most efficient PCB degrading fungus, degrading up to 98.4% and 99.6% of PCB in complex and mineral media, respectively. Combine metabolic activities of bacteria and yeast led to the higher detoxification of PCBs. Fungi-algae consortia would be a promising approach in remediation of PCBs. A critical analysis on potentials and limits of PCB treatment through fungal and algal biosystems have been reviewed, and thus, new insights have emerged for possible bioremediation, bioaccumulation, and biodegradation of PCBs.

Development and microbial characterization of Bio-RD-PAOP for effective remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as typical halogenated persistent organic pollutants are widely distributed in natural environments, and can be enriched and magnified in organisms via food webs. It is consequently urgent and necessary to develop techniques to completely remove these persistent organohalides. In this study, we developed a process (Bio-RD-PAOP) by integrating microbial reductive dechlorination (Bio-RD) with subsequent persulfate activation and oxidation process (PAOP) for effective remediation of PCBs. Results showed the synergistic combination of advantages of Bio-RD and PAOP in dechlorination of higher-chlorinated PCBs and of PAOP in degradation/mineralization of lower-chlorinated PCBs, respectively. For the PAOP, both experimental evidences and theoretical calculations suggested that degradation rate and efficiency decreased with the increased PCB chlorine numbers. Relative to the Bio-RD and PAOP, Bio-RD-PAOP had significantly higher PCB removal efficiencies, of which values were PCB congener-specific. For example, removal efficiency of Bio-RD-PAOP in removing PCB88 is 2.50 and 1.86 times of that of Bio-RD and PAOP, respectively. In contrast, the efficiency is 1.66 and 3.35 times of Bio-RD and PAOP, respectively, for PCB180 removal. The PAOP-derived oxidizing species (mainly sulfate free radical) significantly decreased microbial abundance, particularly of the organohalide-respiring Dehalococcoides. Notably, co-existence of other microorganisms alleviated the inhibitive effect of oxidizing species on the Dehalococcoides, possibly due to formation of microbial flocs or biofilm. This study provided a promising strategy for extensive remediation of organohalide-contaminated sites, as well as new insight into impact of PAOP-derived oxidizing species on the organohalide-respiring community.

Chemical remediationandadvanced oxidation process of polychlorinated biphenyls in contaminated soils: a review.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic compounds ubiquitously distributed worldwide due to their persistence, long-range atmospheric transport, and bioaccumulation. Owing to teratogenic properties, PCBs are a global environmental problem. Different physical, biological, and chemical techniques are utilized for the remediation of PCBs. This review paper discusses the recent development in photocatalytic and chemical techniques for the remediation of PCBs in contaminated soils. In particular, the photocatalytic degradation of PCBs combined with soil washing, Fe-based reductive dichlorination, and advanced oxidation process (Fenton advance oxidation and persulfate oxidation) is discussed and reviewed in detail. The review suggested that advanced oxidation is an efficient remediation technique with 77-99% of removal efficiency of PCBs. Persulfate oxidation is the most suitable technique which could work at normal environmental conditions (such as pH, temperature, soil organic matter (SOM), etc.). Different environmental factors such as pH, temperature, and SOM affect the Fe-based reductive dechlorination and Fenton advance oxidation techniques. The surfactants and organic solvents used in soil washing combined with photocatalytic degradation affect the degradation capability of these techniques. This review will contribute to PCBs degradation by the detailed discussion of development in chemical technique future perspective and research needs.

A poplar short-chain dehydrogenase reductase plays a potential key role in biphenyl detoxification

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants with severe effects on human health and the biosphere. Plant-based remediation offers many benefits over conventional PCB remediation, but its development has been hampered by our poor understanding of biphenyl metabolism in eukaryotes, among other factors. We report here a major PCB-responsive protein in poplar, a plant model system capable of PCB uptake and translocation. We provide structural and functional evidence that this uncharacterized protein, termed SDR57C, belongs to the heterogeneous short-chain dehydrogenase reductase (SDR) superfamily. Despite sequence divergence, structural modeling hinted at structural and functional similarities between SDR57C and BphB, a central component of the Bph pathway for biphenyl/PCB degradation in aerobic bacteria. By combining gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) profiling with a functional complementation scheme, we found that poplar SDR57C can replace BphB activity in the upper Bph pathway of Pseudomonas furukawaii KF707 and therefore catalyze the oxidation of 2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (2,3-DHDB) to 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (2,3-DHB). Consistent with this biochemical activity, we propose a mechanism of action based on prior quantum studies, general properties of SDR enzymes, and the modeled docking of 2,3-DHDB to the SDR57C-NAD+ complex. The putative detoxifying capacity of SDR57C was substantiated through reverse genetics in Arabidopsis thaliana Phenotypic characterization of the SDR lines underscored an inducible plant pathway with the potential to catabolize toxic biphenyl derivatives. Partial similarities with aerobic bacterial degradation notwithstanding, real-time messenger RNA quantification indicates the occurrence of plant-specific enzymes and features. Our results may help explain differences in degradative abilities among plant genotypes and also provide elements to improve them.

Enhanced plant-microbe remediation of PCBs in soil using enzyme modification technique combined with molecular docking and molecular dynamics.

The study on the enhanced mechanisms of the enzymes involved in plant absorption, plant degradation, and microbial mineralization in the remediation of soils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is of great significance for the application of plant-microbe combined remediation technique in PCB-contaminated soils. The present study first used a combination of molecular docking and molecular dynamics methods to calculate the effects of the plant absorption enzyme, plant degradation enzyme, and microbial mineralization enzyme on the PCBs in the soil environment. A multifunctional plant degradation enzyme was constructed with three functional roles of absorption, degradation, and mineralization using amino acid sequence recombination and site-directed mutagenesis to modify the template of plant degradation enzyme. Finally, using the Taguchi experimental design-assisted molecular dynamics simulation method, the suitable external environmental conditions of plant-microbe combined remediation of the PCB-contaminated soil were determined. In total, six multifunctional plant degradation enzymes were designed, which exhibited a significantly improved efficiency of PCB degradation. In comparison to the complex of plant absorption enzyme, plant degradation enzyme, and microorganism mineralization enzyme (6QIM-3GZX-1B85), the six multifunctional plant degradation enzymes exhibited significantly higher efficiency (2.10-2.38 times) in degrading the PCBs, with a maximum of 2.69 times under suitable external environmental conditions.

Mycoremediation of high concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls with Pleurotus sajor-caju LBM 105 as an effective and cheap treatment

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are exceptionally stable organic pollutants. An effective and economically feasible process is essential for their removal. Mycoremediation using white-rot fungal strains proved as a highly effective approach that has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this work was to evaluate PCBs remediation efficacy applying Pleurotus sajor-caju LBM 105. Axenic cultures of the fungus, either in complex or N-limited liquid media, were spiked with 217 mg L−1 of a technical mixture of Aroclor 1242, 1254 y 1260 in oil transformer. PCBs removal capacity, toxicity reduction, changes in fungal morphology and laccase expression caused by pollutant addition and the cost-effectiveness of the remediation treatment were assessed when growing the fungus under two different nutritional conditions. P. sajor-caju LBM 105 could remove 97.7% and 91.7% of the PCBs mixture and reduced the toxicity in complex and mineral media respectively after 35 days of incubation. The addition of PCBs to P. sajor-caju LBM 105 culture media resulted in an increase in hyphal diameter, changes in biomass, glucose consumption, proteins and laccase secretion. A 3-fold rise in laccase activity was detected in both media at 28 day. Laccase mRNA augmented 16% and 91% at 21 and 28 days respectively when PCBs were added to the N-limited liquid media. Mycoremediation of PCBs with P. sajor-caju LBM 105 cultivated in N-limited liquid medium is an effective low-cost (0.69 $ g-1d-1) alternative technique for PCBs treatment.

Mycoremediation of PCBs by Pleurotus ostreatus: Possibilities and Prospects

With the rising awareness on environmental issues and the increasing risks through industrial development, clean up remediation measures have become the need of the hour. Bioremediation has become increasingly popular owing to its environmentally friendly approaches and cost effectiveness. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are an alarming threat to human welfare as well as the environment. They top the list of hazardous xenobiotics. The multiple effects these compounds render to the niche is not unassessed. Bioremediation does appear promising, with myco remediation having a clear edge over bacterial remediation. In the following review, the inputs of white-rot fungi in PCB remediation are examined and the lacunae in the practical application of this versatile technology highlighted. The unique abilities of Pleurotus ostreatus and its deliverables with respect to removal of PCBs are presented. The need for improvising P. ostreatus-mediated remediation is emphasized.

Remediation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Contaminated Soils and Sediment: State of Knowledge and Perspectives

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are one of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) used worldwide between the 1930s and 1980s. Many PCBs can still be found in the environment such as in soils and sediments, even though their use has been heavily restricted. This review summarizes the most frequent remediation solutions including, phytoremediation, microbial degradation, dehalogenation by chemical reagent, and PCBs removal by activated carbon. New insights that emerged from recent studies of PCBs remediation including supercritical water oxidation, ultrasonic radiation, bimetallic systems, nanoscale zero-valent iron based reductive dehalogenation and biofilm covered activated carbon, electrokinetic remediation, and nZVI particles in combination with a second metal are overviewed. Some of these methods are still in the initial development stage thereby requiring further research attention. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of each general treatment strategy and promising technology for PCBs remediation are discussed and compared. There is no well-developed single technology, although various possible technologies have been suggested. Therefore, the possibility of using combined technologies for PCB remediation is also here investigated. It is hoped that this present paper can provide a basic framework and a more profound prospect to select successful PCB remediation strategies or combined technologies.

Quantification of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Concentration in San Francisco Bay Using Satellite Imagery

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 1979, due to the high environmental and public health risks with which they are associated. However, PCBs continue to persist in the San Francisco Bay (SFB), often at concentrations deemed unsafe for humans. In situ PCB monitoring within the SFB is extremely limited, due in large part to the high monetary costs associated with sampling. Here we offer a cost effective alternative to in situ PCB monitoring by demonstrating the feasibility of indirectly quantifying PCBs in the SFB via satellite remote sensing using a two-step approach. First, we determined the relationship between in situ PCB concentrations and suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) in the SFB. We then correlated in situ SSC with spatially and temporally consistent Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2A reflectances. We demonstrate strong relationships between SSC and PCBs in all three SFB sub-embayments (R2 > 0.28–0.80, p < 0.01), as well as a robust relationship between SSC and satellite measurements for both Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2A (R2 > 0.72, p < 0.01). These relationships held regardless of the atmospheric correction regime that we applied. The end product of these relationships is an empirical two-step relationship capable of deriving PCBs from satellite imagery. Our approach of estimating PCBs in the SFB by remotely sensing SSC is extremely cost-effective when compared to traditional in situ techniques. Moreover, it can also be utilized to generate PCB concentration maps for the SFB. These maps could one day serve as an important tool for PCB remediation in the SFB, as they can provide valuable insight into the spatial distribution of PCBs throughout the bay, as well as how this distribution changes over time.

Mechanochemical remediation of PCB contaminated soil

Soil contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is a ubiquitous problem in the world, which can cause significant risks to human health and the environment. Mechanochemical destruction (MCD) has been recognized as a promising technology for the destruction of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other organic molecules in both solid waste and contaminated soil. However, few studies have been published about the application of MCD technology for the remediation of PCB contaminated soil. In the present study, the feasibility of destroying PCBs in contaminated soil by co-grinding with and without additives in a planetary ball mill was investigated. After 4 h milling time, more than 96% of PCBs in contaminated soil samples were destroyed. The residual concentrations of PCBs decreased from 1000 mg/kg to below the provisional Basel Convention limit of less than 50 mg/kg. PCDD/F present in the original soil at levels of 4200 ng TEQ/kg was also destroyed with even a slightly higher destruction efficiency. Only minor dechlorinations of the PCBs were observed and the destruction of the hydrocarbon skeleton is proposed as the main degradation pathway of PCBs.

Review of chemical and electrokinetic remediation of PCBs contaminated soils and sediments.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are manmade organic compounds, and pollution due to PCBs has been a global environmental problem because of their persistence, long-range atmospheric transport and bioaccumulation. Many physical, chemical and biological technologies have been utilized to remediate PCBs contaminated soils and sediments, and there are some emerging new technologies and combined methods that may provide cost-effective alternatives to the existing remediation practice. This review provides a general overview on the recent developments in chemical treatment and electrokinetic remediation (EK) technologies related to PCBs remediation. In particular, four technologies including photocatalytic degradation of PCBs combined with soil washing, Fe-based reductive dechlorination, advanced oxidation process, and EK/integrated EK technology (e.g., EK coupled with chemical oxidation, nanotechnology and bioremediation) are reviewed in detail. We focus on the fundamental principles and governing factors of chemical technologies, and EK/integrated EK technologies. Comparative analysis of these technologies including their major advantages and disadvantages is summarized. The existing problems and future prospects of these technologies regarding PCBs remediation are further highlighted.

Modelling the impact of room temperature on concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in indoor air.

Buildings contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a health concern for the building occupants. Inhalation exposure is linked to indoor air concentrations of PCBs, which are known to be affected by indoor temperatures. In this study, a highly PCB contaminated room was heated to six temperature levels between 20 and 30 C, i.e. within the normal fluctuation of indoor temperatures, while the air exchange rate was constant. The steady-state air concentrations of seven PCBs were determined at each temperature level. A model based on Clausius-Clapeyron equation, ln(P) = -ΔH/RT + a(0), where changes in steady-state air concentrations in relation to temperature, was tested. The model was valid for PCB-28, PCB-52 and PCB-101; the four other congeners were sporadic or non-detected. For each congener, the model described a large proportion (R(2)>94%) of the variation in indoor air PCB levels. The results showed that one measured concentration of PCB at a known steady-state temperature can be used to predict the steady-state concentrations at other temperatures under circumstances where e.g. direct sunlight does not influence temperatures and the air exchange rate is constant. The model was also tested on field data from a PCB remediation case in an apartment in another contaminated building complex where PCB concentrations and temperature were measured simultaneously and regularly throughout one year. The model fitted relatively well with the regression of measured PCB air concentrations, ln(P) vs. 1/T, at varying temperature between 16.3 and 28.2 °C, even though the measurements were carried out under uncontrolled environmental condition.

Thermodynamic study of PCB-153 passing into single walled carbon nanotube (8,8)

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) are high resistant pollutants which cause adverse health effects in recent years. The accumulation of these toxic compounds in the food chain lead to oxidative stress in various ecosystems. Detection, absorption, and elimination of them are an environmental priority. Passing of PCB-153 through the armchair single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) (8,8) were investigated by MNDO in semi-empirical quantum method. Calculated electrical and thermodynamic properties show a sudden change in the middle of the tube which may act as a trap for the studied pollutant. The results indicated the nanotube has considerable ability to interact with PCB-153 and cause its degradation. According to calculated thermodynamic parameters through the molecular modeling, it is expected that single wall carbon nanotube is a candidate in remediation of PCBs as well as in gas sensor devices for detection of them. The median tube is a place for trapping pollutants.

The Detection and Remediation Technologies of PCB-Contaminated Soils

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are the organic pollutants that of persistence, fat soluble and character such as biological toxicity, widely distributed. It also showed a highly persistent in the environment, strong enrichment and high biological toxicity, having the serious harm to human health and ecological environment. The final destination of PCBs in the environmental system is soil and sediment due to its highly distribution coefficient between sediment and water. PCBs in soil is difficult to decompose and has strong adsorption. Therefore, the detection and remediation of PCBs in soil is very critical. PCBSin soil detection technologies becoming matured at present. Such as dual column gas chromatography analysis method, GC – MS, enzyme immunoassay for PCBs detecting have been widely used. Low cost, high resolution and high accuracy detection technology has been more and more attention. For the remediation technologies of contaminated soils, chemical remediation, bioremediation technologies developed fast. Efficient, economic and environmental multiple remediation method, such as elution pretreatment on contaminated soil, combination of multiple remediation techniques are the development direction of the future. Based on the analysis on detection and remediation technologies of PCBs in soil. The principle and suitable condition of different detection methods and remediation technologies of PCBs in soil was studied in this paper. To provide technical support to remediation the PCB-contaminated soils.

PCB remediation in schools: a review.

Growing awareness of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in legacy caulk and other construction materials of schools has created a need for information on best practices to control human exposures and comply with applicable regulations. A concise review of approaches and techniques for management of building-related PCBs is the focus of this paper. Engineering and administrative controls that block pathways of PCB transport, dilute concentrations of PCBs in indoor air or other exposure media, or establish uses of building space that mitigate exposure can be effective initial responses to identification of PCBs in a building. Mitigation measures also provide time for school officials to plan a longer-term remediation strategy and to secure the necessary resources. These longer-term strategies typically involve removal of caulk or other primary sources of PCBs as well as nearby masonry or other materials contaminated with PCBs by the primary sources. The costs of managing PCB-containing building materials from assessment through ultimate disposal can be substantial. Optimizing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of remediation programs requires aligning a thorough understanding of sources and exposure pathways with the most appropriate mitigation and abatement methods.

Immobilization of polychlorinated biphenyls in contaminated soils using organoclays

BackgroundClay minerals especially organoclays modified by the introduction of organic molecules into the mineral structure show much promise for environmental remediation applications. Application of organic attapulgite (O-APG) and organic montmorillonite (O-MMT) as soil amendments to bind polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in contaminated soils and observe PCBs accumulated in the ryegrass shoots and roots was investigated. ResultsPot experiments in greenhouse indicated that organoclays could significantly fix the PCB in soils and reduce its contents in ryegrass shoots and roots. Compared with the control, the migration of concentrations of PCB into the environment in contaminated soils is reduced by about 28.5 and 44.1%, and concentrations of PCB in ryegrass roots and shoots were reduced within the range from 57.0 to 63.0% and 49.6 to 56.5%, respectively, through addition of 6% organic attapulgite and montmorillonite. There was a negative correlation between the accumulation of PCB in ryegrass and the amount of organoclay addition. The accumulations of PCB in ryegrass roots were significantly higher than those in the ryegrass shoots. ConclusionsThe two organoclays had been proved effective as environmental amendments for reducing the mobility and bioavailability of PCB in contaminated soils. The results of this study provided an efficient method for the remediation of PCB contaminated soils.

Electrodialytic remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls contaminated soil with iron nanoparticles and two different surfactants

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are persistent organic pollutants (POP) that strongly adsorb in soils and sediments. There is a need to develop new and cost-effective solutions for the remediation of PCB contaminated soils. The suspended electrodialytic remediation combined with zero valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) could be a competitive alternative to the commonly adapted solutions of incineration or landfilling. Surfactants can enhance the PCB desorption, dechlorination, and the contaminated soil cleanup.In this work, two different surfactants (saponin and Tween 80) were tested to enhance PCB desorption and removal from a soil sampled at a polluted site, in a two-compartment cell where the soil was stirred in a slurry with 1% surfactant, 10mL of nZVI commercial suspension, and a voltage gradient of 1Vcm−1.The highest PCB removal was obtained with saponin. Higher chlorinated PCB congeners (penta, hexa, hepta and octachlorobiphenyl) showed removal percentages between 9% and 96%, and the congeners with highest removal were PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180. The use of low level direct current enhanced PCB removal, especially with saponin. Electrodechlorination of PCB with surfactants and nZVI showed encouraging tendencies and a base is thus formed for further optimization towards a new method for remediation of PCB polluted soils.