TOXIC ORGANIC-COMPOUND RECOVERIES FROM 2,6-DIPHENYL-PARA-PHENYLENE OXIDE POROUS POLYMER USING SUPERCRITICAL CARBON-DIOXIDE AND THERMAL-DESORPTION METHODS

Radiolabeled hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorobiphenyl, anthracene, and Parathion, representing the chemical classes of chlorinated hydrocarbons, chlorinated aromatic compounds, polynuclear aromatic compounds, and organophosphate pesticides, respectively, were used to demonstrate the ability of supercritical carbon dioxide to desorb such environmentally significant compounds from the polymeric sorbent Tenax-GC. All compounds were recovered in excess of 90%. The recoveries of these compounds were examined as a function of the volume of carbon dioxide used for the desorption.