PCB detoxification technologies: A critical assessment

Management of PCBs under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) since promulgation of the first regulations in 1978 has cost industry and government over $1 billion. A significant portion of that expense has been associated with disposal of PCB liquids and PCB articles, ranging from routine PCB removal and replacement to disposal of debris from PCB spills and fires. Since the first PCB incineration permit was granted by the U.S. EPA in 1979, PCBs have also been one of the most expensive chemicals to dispose of commercially. High prices combined with the limited permitted disposal capacity has prompted scientists and engineers to continue the search for less expensive ways to detoxify PCB‐contaminated material. Ironically, these factors have also driven the development of innovative technology for other less expensive waste streams that would otherwise have been passed over. The search for improved PCB detoxification technology continues as disposal capacity continues to shrink and PCB–related cleanups approach the remediation stage. This paper looks at the state of PCB detoxification technology, reviewing past and present technology development efforts and relating these technologies to the industry's remedial needs in the coming years.