POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBON (PAH) RELEASE FROM SOIL DURING TREATMENT WITH FENTONS REAGENT

Fenton's Reagent was used to treat soil from a wood-treating site in s outheastern Ohio which had been contaminated with creosote. Slurries, consisting of 10 g contaminated soil and 30 mL water were treated with 40 mL of Fenton's Reagent (1:1 of 30% H2O2:8.84 mM FeSO4). Concentrat ions of fourteen PAHs were monitored during 24 hours treatment. In pre liminary experiments, we observed a significant increase in the extrac tibility of the PAHs after 1 hour of treatment. Twelve of the fourteen PAHs showed consistent increases (13 to 56%) in extractibility from s oil after one hour of contact time with the Reagent. Only acenaphthyle ne and acenaphthene showed no increase in extractibility. Electron exc hange by structural iron in clay mineral and the swelling of clay laye rs is proposed as the release mechanism of tightly held PAHs. Results obtained in this study suggest that this treatment may enhance soil re mediation. The results also indicate that the PAH analytical method em ployed may provide inaccurate results in some situations.