Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Published on: November 28, 2014
Release of native and mass labelled PCDD/PCDF from soil heated to simulate bushfires
Robert R Black1, Carl P Meyer, Alan Yates
1The University of Queensland, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, QLD 4108, Australia. r.black1@uq.edu.au
Abstract:
Soil is an important reservoir of PCDD/PCDF, which can be released when environmental conditions change. Fire is an extreme event that can increase the surface temperatures of soil substantially, yet little is known of the role soil plays in the emission of PCDD/PCDF. Soil containing native PCDD/PCDF was fortified with a mixture of mass labelled PCDD/PCDF and heated between 150 °C and 400 °C. Both native and mass labelled PCDD/PCDF were released from the soil beyond 200 °C. Release of the mass labelled compounds was linearly related to temperature with up to 9 % found in the air stream at 400 °C. The release of some native PCDD/PCDF was much greater. At 400 °C, emission of 1,2,3,7,8-Cl(5)DD was 300% compared to pre-experimental soil. Emission of PCDD/PCDF from soil during bushfires is a relevant process and may originate from both volatilization and formation via de novo or precursor pathways, or dechlorination.
