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Microwave-enhanced extraction of organic contaminants from soil

The Microwave-Assisted Process (MAP$ sp{ rm TM}$) is an enhanced extraction technology patented by Environment Canada. MAP uses microwaves to rapidly transfer target compounds from one phase to another by selectively heating the phase containing the target compounds. This thesis presents the results of research performed to determine whether the MAP technique can be further developed into a large-scale soil treatment process that overcomes the limitations of conventional remediation technologies. / The dielectric properties of several mixtures of acetone and hexane over a temperature range from 25$ sp circ$C to 50$ sp circ$C were measured. The dielectric constants of these mixtures were found not to vary significantly with temperature. / A study of microwave absorption by heterogeneous mixtures showed that adding a solid material to a low dielectric constant solvent resulted in energy being preferentially absorbed by the solid. / The results of laboratory extraction tests showed that the ability of the MAP technique to extract contaminants was affected by the organic matter content of soil, particularly in the presence of water. / Use of a closed-vessel system yielded a 60% to 175% increase in the extraction of PAHs from a low organic-content soil relative to that achieved in an open-vessel system. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.27393
Date January 1997
CreatorsPunt, Monique M.
ContributorsRaghavan, G. S. V. (advisor)
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Science (Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 001572783, proquestno: MQ29768, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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