Abstract:
An innovative ex situ soil washing technology was developed in this study to
remediate organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)-contaminated site. Elevated temperature (50
C) combined with ultrasonication (35 kHz, 30 min) at 25 g L− 1 methyl-β-cyclodextrin and
100 mL L− 1 sunflower oil were effective in extracting OCPs from the soil. After four
successive washing cycles, the removal efficiency for total OCPs, DDTs, endosulfans, 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6-hexachlorocyclohexanes, heptachlors, and chlordanes were all about 99%. The 4th
washed soil with 3 months cultivation of Portulaca oleracea L. and nutrient addition
significantly increase (p< 0.05) the number, biomass carbon, nitrogen, and functioning
diversity of soil microorganisms. This implied that the microbiological functioning of the soil
was at least partially restored. This combined cleanup strategy proved to be effective and …