Enhanced Electrokinetic Remediation of Heavy Metals Contaminated Soils by Stainless Steel Electrodes as well as the Phenomenon and Mechanism of Electrode Corrosion and Crystallization

Abstract

Electrode corrosion and salt crystallization are important challenges that restrict the engineering application of electrokinetic technology. In the present study, using stainless steel as an electrode, and deionized water (DW), citric acid (CA) and polyaspartic acid (PASP) as electrolytes, Pb/Cu-contaminated soil was remediated by electrokinetic. All of the EK experiments were conducted in a 2 L soil cell reactor with a moisture level of about 35% blended with 1000 mg·g-1 of Pb and 778 mg·g-1 of Cu under a constant voltage gradient (1 V·cm-1, 2 V·cm-1) for 150 h. The removal efficiency of heavy metals and influencing factors, as well as the phenomenon and mechanism of electrode corrosion and salt crystallization were explored. The experimental results showed under the action of electric field, the Ca in the test soil would move to the cathode, and the crystal was formed in the alkaline condition. Additionally, the conductivity of the electrode was reduced. During the EK process, water at the anode was primarily oxidized, undergoing a reduction reaction at the cathode. Because H+ and OH- were transported through the soil by electromigration and electro-osmotic flow (EOF), changes in soil pH could occur. The concentrations distribution of Pb-Cu appeared to be related to the distribution of soil pH in the cell, which might be associated with the desorption and hydroxide precipitation of Pb-Cu. PASP resulted in obvious inhibitory effect on the corrosion of stainless steel electrode, CA and PASP could clearly destroy the formation of CaCO3 crystal, while barely effectively disrupted the formation of Ca (OH)2 crystal. Both CA and PASP could promote the removal of Pb, but the influence of PASP on the removal of Cu was not obvious, and the effect of CA was very significant. Combined with different corrosion inhibitor and reinforcing agent, stainless steel can be chosen as the engineering application electrode in electrokinetic remediation.