APPLICATION OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT METHOD FOR THE REMEDIATION OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS FROM CONTAMINATED SOILS

Abstract

Contaminated soils with toxic and persistent pollutants pose significant potential hazards to the environment and human health. The problem of polluted soils and choosing the most appropriate remediation strategy is a current concern throughout the world. As a result of the industrial activities related to the energy sector (mainly from the extractive industry), the contaminants of interest at the national and international level in terms of the remediation of contaminated sites are petroleum hydrocarbons. In this context, the main aim of the present research was to evaluate the degree of remediation of these contaminants during the application of the electrochemical remediation method. The soil contaminated with crude oil, subject to remediation, is from Teleorman county, Siliștea commune, an area where oil and natural gas extraction wells are located. Following the application of the electrochemical process, a decrease in the TPH concentration level was observed from an initial concentration of 5000 mg/kg s.u. to 2228 mg/kg s.u., thus obtaining a 55% remediation percentage, after a period of 14 days. Consequently, it can be appreciated that the electrochemical process applied in order to remediate a soil contaminated with petroleum products is advantageous in terms of the short duration of time, but the method also presents some disadvantages such as energy consumption and implicitly significant related costs.