Electrochemically Assisted Remediation of Contaminated Soils

Book excerpt: This book provides an overview of the current development status of remediation technologies involving electrochemical processes, which are used to clean up soils that are contaminated with different types of contaminants (organics, inorganics, metalloids and radioactive). Written by internationally recognized experts, it comprises 21 chapters describing the characteristics and theoretical foundations of various electrochemical applications of soil remediation. The book’s opening section discusses the fundamental properties and characteristics of the soil, which are essential to understand the processes that can most effectively remove organic and inorganic compounds. This part also focuses on the primary processes that contribute to the application of electrochemically assisted remediation, hydrodynamic aspects and kinetics of contaminants in the soil. It also reviews the techniques that have been developed for the treatment of contaminated soils using electrochemistry, and discusses different strategies used to enhance performance, the type of electrode and electrolyte, and the most important operating conditions. In turn, the book’s second part deals with practical applications of technologies related to the separation of pollutants from soil. Special emphasis is given to the characteristics of these technologies regarding transport of the contaminants and soil toxicity after treatment. The third part is dedicated to new technologies, including electrokinetic remediation and hybrid approaches, for the treatment of emerging contaminants by ex-situ and in-situ production of strong oxidant species used for soil remediation. It also discusses pre-pilot scale for soil treatment and the use of solar photovoltaic panels as an energy source for powering electrochemical systems, which can reduce both the investment and maintenance costs of electrochemically assisted processes.