No abstract

Electrokinetic remediation technology is one of the developing technologies that offers great promise for the cleanup of soils contaminated with heavy metals. However, the performance of an electrokinetic remediation system depends on the interaction of a complex set of interrelated system variables and parameters. Many of these interactions were addressed in this study by incorporating geochemical reactions into electrokinetic remediation modeling. A one-dimensional transport model was developed to predict the transport and speciation of heavy metals ͑chromium, nickel, and cadmium͒ in soil during electrokinetic remediation as a function of time and space. The model incorporates: ͑1͒ pH-dependent adsorption of contaminants to the soil surface; ͑2͒ sensitivity of soil surface potential and electroosmotic flow to the pore water properties; and ͑3͒ synergistic effects of multiple chemical species on electrokinetic remediation. The model considers that: ͑1͒ Electrical potential in the soil is constant with time; ͑2͒ surface complexation reactions are applicable in the highly concentrated clay suspensions; ͑3͒ the effect of temperature is negligible; and ͑4͒ dissolution of soil constituents is negligible. The predicted pH profiles, electroosmotic flow, and transport of chromium, nickel, and cadmium in kaolin soil during electrokinetic remediation were found to reasonably agree with the bench-scale electrokinetic experimental results. The predicted contaminant speciation and distribution ͑aqueous, adsorbed, and precipitated͒ allow for an understanding of the transport processes and chemical reactions that control electrokinetic remediation.

This article presents a bench‐scale study performed to investigate the removal of heavy metals when they exist individually and in combination in soils. Electrokinetic experiments were conducted using two types of clayey soils, kaolin and glacial till. These soils were contaminated with Cr(VI) only, with Ni(II) only, and with Cr(VI), Ni(II), and Cd(II) combined. It was found that in kaolin, a significant pH variation occurred due to electric potential application, affecting the adsorption‐desorption and dissolution‐precipitation, as well as the extent of migration of the contaminants. In glacial till, however, pH changes were not affected significantly. In both kaolin and glacial till, the migration of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) was higher when they were present individually compared to when they existed together with Cd(II). Cr(VI) migration as single or combined contaminant was lower in kaolin as compared to that in glacial till. This result was due to the low pH conditions created near the anode region in kaolin that led to high Cr(VI) adsorption to the clay surfaces. In glacial till, however, nickel precipitated with or without the presence of co‐contaminants due to high pH conditions in the soil. Overall, this study demonstrates that adsorption, precipitation, and reduction are the significant hindering mechanisms for the removal of heavy metals using electrokinetic remediation. The direction of the contaminant migration and overall removal efficiency depend on the polarity of the contaminant, the presence of co‐contaminants, and the type of soil. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons.

This paper presents a bench-scale experimental study performed to investigate the remediation of low permeable soil contaminated with pentachlorophenol (PCP) using the electrokinetic technique. A total of six electrokinetic tests were performed using kaolin soil spiked with 100 mg/kg of PCP. The first three tests were performed with an applied voltage gradient of 1 VDC/cm, where each test employed one of the three different flushing solutions: deionized water, electrolyte, or buffered electrolyte. The other three tests were performed using the same electrolyte solution, but each employed voltage gradient of 2 VDC/cm under constant and periodic application modes and constant voltage gradient with electrode liquid recirculation. The results of this study showed that PCP can be degraded in an electrokinetic system due to the direct electrochemical reduction process at the electrodes. The degradation of PCP ranged from 52% to about 78% depending on the conditions present. As the applied voltage gradient across the PCP-contaminated soil increased, the electroosmotic flow and PCP migration toward the cathode increased, resulting in higher PCP degradation by the direct reduction process. In the tests with electrolyte flushing solution, PCP degradation was about 58% and 65% under the applied voltage gradients of 1 and 2 VDC/cm, respectively. The mode of application of voltage potential across the PCP-contaminated soil showed noticeable effect on the system pH and electroosmotic flow and hence the PCP degradation. The highest PCP degradation (i.e., 78%) was in the test with constant 2 VDC/cm voltage gradient and recirculation application. Overall, this study demonstrated that electrokinetic technology has the potential to remediate PCP-contaminated clay soils by the direct reductive process. The electroosmatic flow as well as degree of PCP degradation during electrokinetics depend on the applied potential gradient and properties of the aqueous phase such as pH, ionic strength, and presence of carbonates.