Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils via integrated electrochemical processes

The thrust of this study is to develop an in-situ method/technique capable of modifying the contaminated soil environment and maximizing contaminant extraction. Contaminated soils were compacted in electrokinetic cells to densities similar to natural field conditions. Conditioning fluids were used during the application of a direct current to solubilize the precipitated forms of heavy metals. Mobilization of contaminants as a function of time was quantified by analysing metal ion concentrations in the extracted effluents at both the anode and cathode and in the compacted specimens. For each conditioning fluid used, the removal efficiencies were evaluated based on both effluent and soil concentrations.