Electrochemical Technologies for Site Remediation

A typical field electrochemical remediation system is shown in Rgure 1.1. Initially, weUs/drains are configured and drilled so they surround the contaminated 

Electrochemical remediation is also referred as electrokinetics, electrokinetic remediation, electroremediation, electroreclamation, and other such terms in the published literature. It should be noted here that when water alone is used at the electrodes, the process is known as unenhanced electrochemical remediation. However, when enhancement strategies (such as using conditioning solutions and ion exchange membranes at the electrodes) are used, then the process is known as enhanced electrochemical remediation. 

Electrochemical remediation has received tremendous attention from environmental professionals because of its unique advantages over other conventional 

Significant advances have been made toward the understanding of the fundamental processes involved in electrochenucal remediation through controlled and idealized laboratory experiments. Valuable lessons have been learned from a limited number of documented field applications. Nevertheless, numerous research studies have been undertaken recently or ongoing to further understand the processes under field conditions and to develop innovative field systems so that optimized effective electrochemical remediation systems can be implemented at actual field sites. 

Upon electric field application, decomposition of water (electrolysis reactions) occurs at the electrodes. The electrolysis reactions generate oxygen gas and hydrogen ions (H+) due to oxidation at the anode and hydrogen gas and hydroxyl (OH ) ions due to reduction at the cathode as shown by the following reactions  

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