Injection of Nutrients and TEAs in Clayey Soils Using Electrokinetics

Abstract

Bioremediation is a cost-effective and attractive technique for cleanup of organic contaminants in high-permeable soils. Difficulties in providing sufficient nutrients and terminal electron acceptors (TEAs) (e.g., nitrate and sulfate) to subsurface contaminant locations preclude its use for in situ biodegradation of organic contaminants in clayey soils. Electrokinetics is shown to be an effective means to inject necessary ionic nutrients and TEAs in clayey soils. Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that electromigration is a significant factor compared with advective transport rate of ions by electroosmosis. Negatively charged nutrients and TEAs could be injected via introducing them at the cathode and vice versa for positively charged ions. Results also indicate that the concentration achievable in the soil depends on the conductivity of the soil and the inlet concentration of the ion to be injected. The higher the soil conductivity and the inlet concentration the higher is the concentration of ionic nutrients and TEAs achievable in the soil. The pH conditions in the soil could be maintained within the range of approximately 6–9 by placing a calcium carbonate layer in the vicinity of the anode.