ABSTRACT
Electrokinetically enhanced transport of contaminants is perhaps one of the most promising in situ decontamination processes capable of removing heavy metals and organic contaminants from soils, sludges, and lagoons. The significance of the technology appears to be in its projected low operation cost and its potential applicability to a wide range of contamination types. Electroosmotic flow could be induced and sustained in most soil types. One of the important aspects of electrokinetics in soil-water systems is the transient migration of an acid front from the anode site to the cathode site during treatment. When electrolysis of water takes place, hydrogen is produced at the cathode and oxygen is produced at the anode. Electrokinetics have been used for dewatering of soils and sludges since the first recorded use in the field by Casagrande. Electroosmosis produces a rapid flow of water in low permeability soils and probably contributes significantly to the decontamination process in clay soils by advection.
