Experiences With Field Applications of Electrokinetic Remediation

EXPERIENCES WITH FIELD APPLICATIONS OF ELECTROKINETIC REMEDIATION 

Electroreclamation (ER) is a soil remediation technology that uses electrokinetic effects to remove inorganic contamination. It can, for example, be used to remove heavy metals, all types of cyanides, arsenic, and other ionic or polar compounds. The basic principle involves applying a difference in potential, thus causing charged particles to migrate to the cathode or the anode. A special electrolyte system is used to both condition physical parameters around the electrodes and in the soil, and to remove the contaminants that have collected around the electrodes. 

Applying this soil remediation technology requires special expertise this chapter describes the technology and its applications, indicating the materials and decontamination methods that can be used and how the system should be initiated and controlled. It also specifies the samples that need to be taken in order to monitor the decontamination process. Before remediation can commence, however, it is first necessary to clarify where contamination is present in the area of soil concerned and in what form. It is furthermore necessary to perform electrokinetic laboratory tests with one or preferably more representative soil samples. Finally, it is explained how the data are analyzed and used for carrying out the design of the remediation system. 

ER belongs to the group of so-called physicochemical remediation technologies. Under the influence of an electric field, a number of electrokinetic phenomena occur  

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

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