A laboratory-scale study of applied voltage on the electrokinetic separation of lead from soils
- West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The application of electrokinetic (EK) soil-flushing technology to the separation of lead from a nonsynthetic, fine-grained, low permeability soil was examined. In these laboratory-scale experiments the effects of applied voltage (30 and 60 V DC) on cumulative electroosmotic (EO) flow, charge-input, and lead removal were investigated. To develop a more generalized cause-effect relationship, these parameters were studied using three anode/cathode reservoir conditioning schemes: NaNO{sub 3}/NaNO{sub 3}, NaNO{sub 3}/HAc (acetic acid), and HCl/HAc. Charge-input and cumulative EO flow generally increased when the applied voltage was raised. When reservoir pH controls were used, results were more consistent with theoretically predicted outcomes. Increasing the applied voltage increased the electrolysis of water, which increased the fluid conductivity and charge-input. Although cumulative EO flow increased in proportion to the voltage, the advantage of operating at a higher applied voltage diminished as the amount of lead remaining in the soil decreased. The highest lead removal rates for both the 30 and 60 V tests were achieved using the 0.1 M HCl/1.0 M HAc reservoir conditioning scheme. The addition of HCl t the anode reservoir solution enhanced the impact of the acid front, especially during the initial pore volumes of flow which occurred before the oxidation of water could produce significant amounts of H{sup +} at the anode. Additionally, HAc in the cathode reservoir prevented the formation of a base front and the subsequent Pb readsorption/precipitation onto soil. The greater cumulative EO flow and charge-input in the experiments conducted with the HCl/HAc reservoir conditioning scheme resulted in faster Pb removal via advection and electrolytic migration.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC21-87MC24207
- OSTI ID:
- 653412
- Journal Information:
- Separation Science and Technology, Vol. 33, Issue 12; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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