Cost Estimates for Electrokinetic Remediation

The cost of electrokinetic remediation, like any other remediation technology, is highly site specific. There have been relatively few full-scale installations of electrokinetic processes when compared with conventional remediation processes. There have been more applications of electrokinetics in Europe than in the USA. Since 1987, more than 75 electrokinetic projects have been implemented in Europe (Holland Environment, pers. comm.), while in the USA, very few full-scale appUca-tions have been successfully completed. 

Cost information available for US projects is scarce and tends to be based on pilot-scale, research studies or demonstration sites (USEPA, 1995,1999,2003 DOE, 1996 ITRC, 1997 United States Army Environmental Center, 2000). There has been multiple pilot-scale and full-scale demonstrations completed, but costs for these type of projects are significantly higher than full-scale commercial installations due to the small-scale, intensive monitoring requirements and multiple layers of oversight. Other than Lasagna, there are no recent successful commercial applications in the USA from which to draw accurate cost information not based on research, pilot, or demonstration sites. 

Some review articles cited above present cost estimates for full-scale systems based on pilot trial extrapolation with little or no full-scale site data. However, these estimates appear to be fairly accurate, considering inflation, and fall within the range of current costs outlined in Table 27.1. Table 27.1 summarizes the present costs of commercial, full-scale electrokinetic remediation for typical installations to treat organic and inorganic contamination. These data are based on information from Holland Environment BV/RL and Terran Corporation. There may be other 

Electrochemical Remediation Technologies for Polluted Soils, Sediments and Groundwater, Edited by Krishna R. Reddy and Claudio Cameselle Copyright 2009 John Wiley Sons, Inc. 

The primary competition at contaminated sites is rarely other electrokinetic-based remedies but between electrokinetic and conventional remedy choices. Many times, the choice is between electrokinetics and excavation. The economics of electrokinetics compare favorably to excavation and disposal of large amounts of hazardous wastes. The average cost of 200 per cubic meter equates to roughly 90 per ton of saturated loamy soil. 

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Athmer CJ (2009) Cost estimates for electrokinetic remediation. In Reddy KR, Cameselle C (eds) Electrochemical remediation technologies for polluted soils, sediments and groundwater. Wiley, Hoboken, pp 583-587... 

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