Sorption/Desorption of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzo Furans (PCDDs/PCDFs) in the Presence of Cyclodextrins

The goal of this study was to investigate the usefulness of cyclodextrins (CDs) for the removal of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDDs/PCDFs) in soil and water. Five CDs having different molecular cavities and active functional groups were selected and evaluated for their ability to include (trap) PCDDs/PCDFs in soil and water. For the soil experiments, CDs were added to the soil on day one and the concentrations of unbound PCDDs/PCDFs were monitored over a 28-day period. Parallel control experiments were conducted to assist in the process performance evaluation. The ability of CDs to remove PCDDs/PCDFs from the contaminated soil was dependent upon the type of CD used and constituents of PCDDs/PCDFs. Among the five CDs investigated, hydroxypropyl-β -cyclodextrin (HPBCD) gave the highest removal efficiency for all components of PCDDs/PCDFs. The removal efficiency of total PCDDs/PCDFs was 81% one day after application of CDs and then increased to 96% after 28 days. The α -cyclodextrin (ACD) and β -cyclodextrin (BCD) removed only 45% and 50% of the total PCDDs/PCDFs after 28 days, respectively, whereas hydroxypropyl-γ -cyclodextrin (HPGCD) removed 80% of the total PCDDs/PCDFs.