SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION OF COAL-TAR CONTAMINATED SOIL

A coal tar contaminated soil containing over 0.1% polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was treated by supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide/methanol. A 7-h extraction period resulted in removal of 92 % of the PAH and other contaminants. This was reflected in the virtual elimination of toxicity and mutagenic activity as measured by two short-term assays. Shorter extraction periods gave lesser, but still significant, toxicity and mutagenic activity reductions. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.