ELECTROKINETIC REMEDIATION - BASICS AND TECHNOLOGY STATUS

Electrokinetic remediation, variably named as electrochemical soil processing, electromigration, electrokinetic decontamination or electroreclamation uses electric currents to extract radionuclides, heavy metals, certain organic compounds, or mixed inorganic species and some organic wastes from soils and slurries. An overview of the principals of the electrokinetic remediation technique in soils is presented. The types of waste and media in which the technology could potentially be applicable are outlined and some envisioned environmental uses of conduction phenomena in soils under electric fields are presented. The current status of the electrokinetic remediation technique and its limitations are discussed through a review of the bench-scale and pilot-scale tests. The recent findings of research on different techniques that may improve the technology's effectiveness are mentioned and the status of ongoing efforts in wide-scale implementation and commercialization of the technique in the USA are described.