Surfactant enhanced electrokinetic remediation of DDT from soils

Electrokinetic remediation has been investigated extensively as one of the noble technologies in remediation of metal contaminated soils. However, its applications in remediation of organic contaminants have been limited due to low solubilities of organics in water. In addition, most organic contaminants are non-ionic and therefore, they are not mobile under electrical field. The use of surfactants may increase the remediation efficiency by increasing the solubility of organics. Significant fraction of organics associated with soil, can be transferred to micellar phase, which then can be transported toward either cathode or anode, depending on the ionic group of surfactants.Electrokinetic remediation has been investigated extensively as one of the noble technologies in remediation of metal contaminated soils. However, its applications in remediation of organic contaminants have been limited due to low solubilities of organics in water. In addition, most organic contaminants are non-ionic and therefore, they are not mobile under electrical field. The use of surfactants may increase the remediation efficiency by increasing the solubility of organics. Significant fraction of organics associated with soil, can be transferred to micellar phase, which then can be transported toward either cathode or anode, depending on the ionic group of surfactants.