Sludge treatment, dioxin-contaminated

The Basic Extractive Sludge Treatment (B.E.S.T. ) process is an ex situ solvent extraction technology. The B.E.S.T. process uses one or more secondary or tertiary amines, such as diisopropylamine, to separate contaminants from soil, sediment, and sludge. This technology is applicable to most organics or oily contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, herbicides, dioxins, furans, and other organic compounds. 

Processes can be modified to deliver targeted remediation levels. Many different soil contaminants have been treated. These include PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated solvents, dioxins, furans, pesticides, hexachlorobenzenes, BTXs, volatiles, and semi volatiles. After treatment, the soils pass all toxicity characterization leachate procedure (TCLP) criteria for replacement or nonhazardous waste landfill disposal. Specific examples of soil and sludge treatment will now be given. Table 3 contains data from several PCB remediation projects. 

Table 4 SET Treatment of PCB-and Dioxin-Contaminated Sludge from New Bedford Harbor...

One can speculate that ozone may be useful in the treatment of heavily contaminated bodies of water. In this use, pipes and ozone generators will be installed to provide a continuous supply of ozone to the water. At first, ozone will kill all current life. Next, it should oxidize the residual dissolved organic material remaining from past contamination. As ozone treatment continues, the sludge on the bottom will be oxidized killing and removing all bacteria and plant life. With sufficient ozone treatment, the water and bottom will become totally sterile and free from all organic contamination. While not demonstrated, this process has the potential to eliminate toxic materials such as herbicides, pesticides, DDT, DDE, dioxin and other POPs that would otherwise persist in the lake for decades. 

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