ABSTRACT
As result of electrode reactions, the electrolyte close to the anode will turn acidic during the ECE treatment. The concrete is not an acid resistant material, and thereby, the exposed concrete surface will be etched and weakened during the ECE. This issue can be avoided by adding a buffer such as lithium borate or calcium hydroxide to the electrolyte, but at same time, this will reduce the efficiency of extraction due to distributing the charge over more ions than in case of using electrolyte. Ion exchange membrane, as an approach hindering selected ions passing, could be introduced to the ECE process. Membrane enhanced electrokinetic remediation technique has been investigated with soil, fly ash, and harbor sediment.
