Effect of electrokinetic pollutant removal on the status of some macro and micro elements in saline soil

Abstract EN

Soil electrokinetic remediation is an appropriate technique to remove pollutants from soils particularly in low permeability soil.

Recently, a new variation of soil electrokinetic remediation (SEKR) known as perforated cathode pipe SEKR system (PCPSS) was investigated for heavy metals removal and land reclamation.

The PCPSS was enhanced for the removal of heavy metals via introducing the vertical anode/perforated cathode pipe SEKR system (VA/PCPSS).

In the present work, the behaviors of associated macro and micro elements were investigated during the removal of heavy metals from soil via either the PCPSS or the VA/PCPSS.

The results indicated that, calcium (Ca2+) depleted from the top surface of soil specimen and accumulated close to the perforated cathode pipes when the PCPSS was applied.

The depletion of Ca2+ was noticeably detected in the middle of specimen via installing the VA/PCPSS.

The removed magnesium (Mg2+) was lower than Ca2+, and it tended to desorb from the soil layer around anode and reabsorbed again in the subsequent layer during the application of the PCPSS.

This accumulation disappeared when the VA/PCPSS was applied.

The removal of potassium (K+) was lower in the top layer of soil when the VA/PCPSS was installed that may increase its applicability during soil reclamation.

Boron accumulated around anode in the PCPSS system.

On the other hand the application of the VA/PCPSS shunned this behavior.

Molybdenum (Mo) tended to osculate during the application of the PCPSS, however the application of the VA/PCPSS resulted in high removal rate of Mo at the end of anodes and around cathode pipes.