The objective of this project is to develop the methodology for determining the overall distribution coefficients and the extent of extraction necessary for supercritical extraction of a complex chemical mixture of environmental pollutants from water. These parameters will be determined as a function of the type of solvent, temperature, and pressure in terms of the toxicological indices obtained via cell culture bioassays. The investigator plans to study the use of carbon dioxide and other supercritical solvents with or without entrainers for extraction of a complex mixture of toxic organic contaminants from water and determine an overall distribution coefficient as well as the extent of extraction necessary for treatment of water to achieve acceptably safe levels of contaminants in water destined for human consumption, considering toxic indices for genetoxicity and carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity and neurocarcinogenesis, prenatal toxicity and birth defects. The investigator will base the research on model mixture of water contaminated with a wood preservative (creosote). The distribution coefficients and the extent of extraction will be determined as a function of temperature and pressure in a single equilibrium stage extractor. The research being conducted in this project is directed toward a promising new technology to complement those currently available for treatment of water contaminated by organic substances. It offers promise of reduction in the volume of residual contaminated material that is produced during treatment of water by conventional procedures and processes now used.
