GENOTOXICITY PROFILES AND REACTION CHARACTERISTICS OF POTASSIUM POLYETHYLENE-GLYCOL DEHALOGENATION OF WOOD PRESERVING WASTE

Chemical dehalogenation of pentachlorophenol-containing wood preservin g waste (EPA K001) with potassium polyethylene glycol (KPEG) was inves tigated. The effect of treatment on the waste toxicity was examined by monitoring genotoxicity of the organic wastes. The effects of tempera ture, reaction time, and pentachlorophenol concentration on dehalogena tion were also investigated. Samples were collected throughout treatme nt and sequentially extracted with dichloromethane and methanol. Chemi cal analysis indicated that KPEG effectively dehalogenated pentachloro phenol in the waste. Mutagenicity and genotoxicity of the organic extr acts were evaluated in the Salmonella/microsome and Escherichia call p rophage induction assays. Extracts exhibited significantly higher geno toxic responses when tested with metabolic activation. KPEG dehalogena tion generally decreases waste genotoxicity during treatment; however, additional treatment is required for complete detoxification.