Yu Zeng
Engineers in San Diego, CA

8298814, Oct 30, 2012

Nov 6, 2000

10/129354

P. K. Andy Hong - Salt Lake City UT, US
David A. Wavrek - Salt Lake City UT, US
Jiun-Chi Chao - Salt Lake City UT, US
Yu Zeng - San Diego CA, US

University of Utah - Salt Lake City UT

A62D 3/00, A62D 3/02, B09B 3/00, B09C 1/10, C02F 1/02, C02F 3/00, C02F 3/34, C10G 32/00

435262, 4352625, 435281, 435809, 210600, 210601, 210634

A method for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic compounds is disclosed that involves dissolving ozone in a bipolar solvent comprising a non-polar solvent in which is of sufficiently non-polar character to solubilized the polycyclic aromatic compounds, and a polar-water-compatible solvent which is fully miscible with the non-polar solvent to form a single phase with the non-polar solvent. The bipolar solvent with dissolved ozone is contacted with the polycyclic aromatic compounds to solubilize the polycyclic aromatic compounds and react the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds with the ozone to degrade the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds to oxygenated intermediates. The bipolar solvent is then mixed with sufficient water to form separate non-polar and polar phases, the non-polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the oxygenated intermediates. The polar phase is then diluted and incubated with bacteria to biodegrade the oxygenated intermediates.