In-Situ Electrokinetic Remediation for Metal Contaminated Soils.

摘要

Metal contaminated soil presents one of the largest remediation problems at military sites. Options for in-situ treatment for metal contaminated soil are limited. The US Army Environmental Center (USAEC) and Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) conducted a field demonstration of electrokinetic remediation to assess the performance and cost of the technology. This demonstration, sponsored by the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) and the Southwest Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, was conducted at a metals contaminated site at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) Point Mugu, California. Electrokinetic remediation is an in-situ process in which an electrical field is created in a soil matrix by applying a low-voltage direct current (DC) to electrodes placed in the soil. The objective of this demonstration was to evaluate the ability of electrokinetic remediation to extract heavy metal contaminants from impacted soil and sediment. The demonstration was designed to identify, collect, and verify the economic, operational, and performance data that will be used to validate and transfer this technology to potential users. Performance and costs were the major factors being evaluated. During the period of operation, the electrokinetic remediation system failed to mobilize and extract the metals contaminants from the soil. Costs associated with the technology were also significantly higher than those typically quoted by electrokinetic technology vendors. Many issues remain to be resolved prior to the full-scale commercialization of electrokinetic remediation technology.