Catalytic and Supercritical Technologies for the Destruction of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Wastes: A Review

Abstract

PCBs are one of the best known of the twelve compound classes defined as persistent organic pollutants (POP) by the Stockholm Convention and, therefore, actions are required to reduce the utilization of, and to eliminate, in an environmentally sound manner, all wastes contaminated with PCBs as soon as possible, but before 2028. An initial inventory of PCBs in Colombia, according to the guidelines of the Stockholm Convention, accounts for the existence of approximately 13,000 tons of PCBs wastes. However, there are no available state-of-theart incineration facilities that can deal with PCBs in the region, and thus local PCBs wastes must be exported. Accordingly, this paper presents a critical, not necessarily exhaustive, review of catalytic and supercritical technologies for the destruction of PCB wastes. Data concerning the destruction of PCBs reported during the period 2000-2010 are evaluated in this review. The possibility of application of such technologies is assessed by taking into account the technical maturity of these processes as indicated by batch or continuous pilot scale runs and PCBs destruction efficiency. Although some other technologies, such as the radiolytic process and plasma arc, have also been used for PCB destruction, a lack of recent publications indicates a decreased interest in their industrial application and therefore these are not discussed in this review