In situ electromigration as a method for removing sulfate, metals, and other contaminants from ground water
- Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences
- Colombi Schmutz Dorthe AG, Bern (Switzerland)
Electromigration is proposed as an in situ method for preconcentrating contaminants in ground water prior to pumping and treating. In earlier investigations by the senior author and co-workers, it was found that Cu in synthetic ground water migrated strongly to a Pt cathode and plated out as metallic copper. In the present study, carbon electrodes were inserted into a laboratory column of fine quartz sand that was saturated with a lower concentration of CuSO[sub 4] solution. A fixed potential of 2.5 V was applied, causing dissolved Cu and SO[sub 4] to accumulate strongly at the cathode and anode, respectively. Only minor plating-out of Cu took place on the carbon electrodes. In addition to the use of carbon electrodes, the present research also investigated the effects of a lower concentration of metal, accumulation of SO[sub 4] adjacent to the anodes, adsorption of Cu on the sand, and competition by moving ground water. At an imposed voltage of 2.5 V and in the presence of 65 mg/L of dissolved Cu and 96 mg/L of SO[sub 4] (0.001 M CuSO[sub 4] solution), electrolysis of water caused large changes in the pH and speciation of the aqueous components, as well as precipitation of solid Cu-hydroxides. Significant retardation of Cu occurred in the presence of ground water flowing at an average intergranular velocity of 0.2 m/day, but only minor retardation at water velocities of 1.9 and 2.9 m/day. Sulfate tends to migrate strongly to the anodes, suggesting that in situ electromigration may offer a useful new method for preconcentrating such highly soluble ions as SO[sub 4], NO[sub 3], and Cl that are difficult to remove by conventional pump-and-treat methods. A number of potential problems exist that should be addressed in a field test.
- OSTI ID:
- 6249595
- Journal Information:
- Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation; (United States), Vol. 13:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CHLORIDES
MATERIALS RECOVERY
COPPER
GROUND WATER
DECONTAMINATION
NITRATES
SULFATES
FIELD TESTS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
REMEDIAL ACTION
WATER POLLUTION
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CLEANING
ELEMENTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
METALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)