Use of electrokinetic and reactive barriers to treat heavy metals-contaminated soils
type: CreativeWork
description: The combined use of electrokinetic (EK) and reactive barrier (RB) of transformed red mud (TRM) (a by-product of bauxite refinement for alumina production) for the remediation of low permeability contaminated soils by chromium and arsenic was investigated. The combination of EK with RB is a possible way in order to enhance EK removal of Cr and As that are reported to be among the more difficult elements to remove by electrokinetics. The goal and the novelty of the research consisted of evaluating the synergic interaction between the EK system and the RB and to compare the efficiency of such combined treatment with usual, unenhanced EK remediation process. From the joint application of EK and a TRM reactive barrier the following advantages were expected: -- the acid neutralizing capacity of the TRM RB should suppress acidification of the contaminated soil promoting the desorption of oxyanions under the influence of the alkalinity produced at the cathode and, in turn, enhancing their electromigration towards the anodic zone and the TRM RB; -- hydrogen ions generated at the anode during the EK process should provide the acidity required to increase the capacity of the nearby TRM RB to adsorb oxyanions. In the second part of the research, an in situ electrokinetic fence was compared with the performance of different permeable reactive barriers made of TRM, sodium-treated zeolite, magnesium oxide and biochar. The aim of the study was to compare the efficiency of each barrier system on the containment of the copper in order to withstand the spread of contaminant through the soil due to diffusion or hydraulic gradient. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ L'uso combinato dell’elettrocinesi (EK) e delle barriere reattive (RB) costituite da fanghi rossi trasformati (TRM) (residuo industriale del processo di produzione dell’allumina) è stato studiato per la bonifica di suoli caratterizzati da …
abstract: The combined use of electrokinetic (EK) and reactive barrier (RB) of transformed red mud (TRM) (a by-product of bauxite refinement for alumina production) for the remediation of low permeability contaminated soils by chromium and arsenic was investigated. The combination of EK with RB is a possible way in order to enhance EK removal of Cr and As that are reported to be among the more difficult elements to remove by electrokinetics. The goal and the novelty of the research consisted of evaluating the synergic interaction between the EK system and the RB and to compare the efficiency of such combined treatment with usual, unenhanced EK remediation process. From the joint application of EK and a TRM reactive barrier the following advantages were expected: -- the acid neutralizing capacity of the TRM RB should suppress acidification of the contaminated soil promoting the desorption of oxyanions under the influence of the alkalinity produced at the cathode and, in turn, enhancing their electromigration towards the anodic zone and the TRM RB; -- hydrogen ions generated at the anode during the EK process should provide the acidity required to increase the capacity of the nearby TRM RB to adsorb oxyanions. In the second part of the research, an in situ electrokinetic fence was compared with the performance of different permeable reactive barriers made of TRM, sodium-treated zeolite, magnesium oxide and biochar. The aim of the study was to compare the efficiency of each barrier system on the containment of the copper in order to withstand the spread of contaminant through the soil due to diffusion or hydraulic gradient. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ L'uso combinato dell’elettrocinesi (EK) e delle barriere reattive (RB) costituite da fanghi rossi trasformati (TRM) (residuo industriale del processo di produzione dell’allumina) è stato studiato per la bonifica di suoli caratterizzati da …
author: SPIGA, DANIELA
language: eng
keywords: Electrokinetic remediation, arsenate, chromate, reactive barrier, transformed red mud, Settore ICAR/03 - Ingegneria Sanitaria-Ambientale
date published: 2011-03-25
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:30:03Z
provider: Università di Cagliari
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Università degli Studi di Cagliari

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11584/266321