Electro‐enhanced remediation of radionuclide‐contaminated groundwater using zero‐valent iron

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate electrochemically‐enhanced immobilization of radionuclides in contaminated groundwater using Fe°. A bench‐scale flow‐through Fe° reactor column with direct current was tested to increase the efficiency and effective life of the Fe° medium by (i) providing an external supply of electrons, (ii) controlling the rate of iron oxidation, and (iii) enhancing the rate of radionuclide immobilization. The removal mechanism appears to be reductive coprecipitation of radionuclides by iron oxidation by creating a reducing environment in the reactive iron barrier. Several factors influence the removal of radionuclides from groundwater using this reactor column including electrode configuration, applied voltage, distance between cathode and anode, and radionuclide concentration.

Key words:

• Electroremdiation
• water treatment
• uranium
• technetium
• zero‐valent iron

Notes

Corresponding author; e‐mail:[email protected]