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Enhanced electrokinetic remediation of lead-contaminated soil by complexing agents and approaching anodes

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Abstract

Optimizing process parameters that affect the remediation time and power consumption can improve the treatment efficiency of the electrokinetic remediation as well as determine the cost of a remediation action. Lab-scale electrokinetic remediation of Pb-contaminated soils was investigated for the effect of complexant ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and acetic acid and approaching anode on the removal efficiency of Pb. When EDTA was added to the catholyte, EDTA dissolved insoluble Pb in soils to form soluble Pb–EDTA complexes, increasing Pb mobility and accordingly removal efficiency. The removal efficiency was enhanced from 47.8 to 61.5 % when the EDTA concentration was increased from 0.1 to 0.2 M, showing that EDTA played an important role in remediation. And the migration rate of Pb was increased to 72.3 % when both EDTA and acetic acid were used in the catholyte. The “approaching anode electrokinetic remediation” process in the presence of both EDTA and acetic acid had a higher Pb-removal efficiency with an average efficiency of 83.8 %. The efficiency of electrokinetic remediation was closely related to Pb speciation. Exchangeable and carbonate-bounded Pb were likely the forms which could be removed. All results indicate that the approaching anode method in the presence of EDTA and acetic acid is an advisable choice for electrokinetic remediation of Pb-contaminated soil.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the National Special Project on Water Pollution Control and Management (no. 2012ZX07503-002). Prof. Mengqiang Zhu from the University of Wyoming (USA) is appreciated for his comments during the manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China

    Tao Zhang, Hua Zou, Minhui Ji, Xiaolin Li, Liqiao Li & Tang Tang

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  1. Tao Zhang
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  2. Hua Zou
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  3. Minhui Ji
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  4. Xiaolin Li
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  5. Liqiao Li
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  6. Tang Tang
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Correspondence to Hua Zou.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Zhang, T., Zou, H., Ji, M. et al. Enhanced electrokinetic remediation of lead-contaminated soil by complexing agents and approaching anodes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 3126–3133 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2274-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2274-9

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