Scale-up on electrokinetic treatment of polluted soil with petroleum: Effect of operating conditions

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of the scale-up of electrokinetic remediation (EKR) approach in carbonaceus soils. The scale-up study was performed in an electrokinetic lab scale (2.55 dm3) by using two graphite electrodes placed in the cathodic and anodic compartments. The solution used was to humidify the soil were Na2SO4 0.1 M and water. A soil polluted (1.5 Kg) with petroleum (ranging from 500 to 2500 ppm) was treated by applying different currents (ranging from 0.5 A to 0.2 A). The effects such as current, pH, conductivity, z-potential and solution were evaluated to understand the better conditions to remove the organic matter from polluted soil. An increase in scale directly influenced the amount of energy supplied to the soil being treated. As a result, electroosmotic and electromigration flows and electric heating are more intense than in previous study performed where a smaller-scale cell was used.