A review of the electrokinetic method to remediate contaminated soil

Always anthropogenic activities and hazardous waste produced in the world cause soil pollution, which is one of the most important environmental issues. Soil contaminants include organic and inorganic materials such as heavy metals, radionuclides, or a mixture of them, which will lead to harmful effects by moving to the groundwater and difficult to remediate. The electrokinetic method is known as one of the most effective technique to eliminate these types of contaminants and to modify low hydraulic permeability soils; However, poor solubility, low absorption capacity, lowest removal efficiency of non-polar pollutants and depending on acidic conditions are the main disadvantages of this method; as well as the need for a fluid to conduct contaminants and heterogeneities in sites such as large stones or sand are problems that this method is countered with. To overcome the limitations and disadvantages of electrokinetics, advanced methods such as the use of surfactants, reagents, soil pH control and the combination of electrokinetic method with biological remediation, ultrasonicwas developed.