Removal of CU(II) and CR(III) from naturally contaminated loam by electromigration

Abstract

A new technique for electrokinetic soil remediation was proposed and developed in our previous studies. In the proposed technique, a conductive solution was inserted between the cathode and the soil being treated. By this arrangement, the heavy metals no longer precipitated in the soil, instead they were transported out of the soil and precipitated in the conductive solution; furthermore the decrease in conductivity, due to metals precipitated in the soil, has been avoided. Experimental results showed that heavy metals such as zinc, copper, chromium, cadmium and lead can be removed from artificially contaminated sand; and the removal efficiencies higher than 90% have been achieved. In this study, three laboratory experiments have been carried out to remove copper(II) and chromium(III) from naturally contaminated loam. The experimental results show that the removal efficiencies depend on the duration of the treatment. In seven days remediation, metal removal efficiencies around 90% were reached for both copper(II) and chromium(III).

Key words:

• Electrokinetic Remediation
• Soil
• pH
• Heavy Metals
• Elctromigration
• Electroremediation

Notes

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