Electroremediation of an industrial area contaminated by chromium

Abstract

Remediation of soils contaminated by chromium near an industrial area in Algeria has been studied by means of electrokinetic process. Chromium behavior in the course of an electroremediation is studied as a function of the solution in both anolyte and catholyte. After speciation and experiments which consist of 20 days each, it is shown that the use of NaNO₃ in these compartments induces a chromium oxidation by nitrate anion and its removing only through the anion exchange membrane toward the anode. Other ions (Cl⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻ give rise to ion transfer toward the two electrodes showing that the chromium is present at two oxidation states. The pH and the current behavior have also been examined in this work. Results have shown a contribution to the understanding of the removing mechanisms in the course of the electroremediation of a soil contaminated by chromium.

Keywords:

• Chromium
• electroremediation
• nitric acid
• electrokinetic process

Notes

*All experiments were carried on using a voltage of 55 Volts, a liquid-solid ratio of 1.6 and a mass of soil of 90 g with only water as extractant.