Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to render them available for biodegradation

A method for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, the method comprising:

• contacting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds with ozone dissolved in a bipolar solvent, the bipolar solvent comprising:
• a non-polar solvent, which is immiscible with water and of a sufficiently non-polar character to dissolve the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds that are insoluble in water as well as oxygenated intermediates and reaction products of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds and ozone, and
• a polar solvent, which is soluble with water and fully miscible with the non-polar solvent to form a single phase with the non-polar solvent, and
• the contacting being for a sufficient duration to solubilize and react the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds with the ozone to form oxygenated intermediates.

A method of treating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the method comprising:

• contacting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a non-polar solvent, which is immiscible with water and of a sufficiently non-polar character to dissolve the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds;
• adding a polar solvent to the non-polar solvent to form a single miscible phase, wherein the polar solvent is soluble with water and fully miscible with the non-polar solvent to form the single miscible phase;
• and
• adding ozone to react with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to form oxygenated intermediates.