The Influence of Electrokinetic Remediation Process on the Removal of Cationic and Anionic Dyes from Kaolinitic Soils

Abstract

Low permeability soils possess specific mineralogical properties such as particle size, high buffer capacity, and high sorption capacity, which make them difficult to remediate and so pose serious environmental problems when polluted. The grain pores of these low permeability so ils trap in pollutants tightly, which are inaccessible and non-responsive to traditional technologies during remediation. Traditional technologies, some of which are ex-situ remediation techniques further compound these environmental problems through logistics and economic infeasibility. Electrokinetic Remediation (EKR) can offer certain advantages for treatment of various contaminants which include organic compounds, heavy metals, radionuclides, organic waste and some mixed inorganic species from a matrix with high salinity, low permeability and high buffering capacity. In addition, (EKR) is a clean and novel technique which accesses the grain pores of low permeability soils such as clays and silts, which have proven non-responsive to other soil remediation technologies such as soil flushing and soil washing. Among these fine soils, it has been proven that (EKR) is more effective on clay soil with particle size <2mm, moderate plasticity, lower cation exchange capacity (CEC) and lower buffering capacity which can be found in this order: kaolinite>illinite >bentonite.