An analysis of a flushing effect on the electrokinetic-flushing removal of cobalt and cesium from a soil around decommissioning site

• Published in: Separation and purification technology Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 116 - 121
• Main Authors: Kim, Gye-Nam, Jung, Yun-Ho, Lee, Jung-Joon, Moon, Jei-Kwon, Jung, Chong-Hun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.10.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Electrokinetic-flushing; Exact sciences and technology; Higher permeability soil; Reactors; Remediation; Removal efficiency; Electrokinetic-flushing; Remediation; Removal efficiency; Higher permeability soil; Electrokinetics; Washing; Permeability; Electroremediation; Pump; Transport process; Decontamination; Electrolyte; Electroosmosis; Electrodiffusion; Reactor
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2008.04.006

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an electrokinetic-flushing remediation for a higher permeability of a soil. The soil was sampled from the site around a training, research, isotope, general atomic (TRIGA) research reactor which had higher hydro-conductivities due to the inclusion of a lot of sand. The removal efficiencies of cobalt and cesium in a soil cell with acetic acid were the highest values of 95.2% and 84.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, the removal efficiency of cobalt and cesium near the anode was reduced by about 10% because of the negative complex ions formed by a combination of an electrolyte reagent, and cobalt or cesium which had been transported to the anode. The effluent volume generated from the electrokinetic remediation was below 10% of that from the soil washing. The electrokinetic-flushing remediation enhanced the removal efficiencies of Co 2+ and Cs + from the TRIGA soil by about 6% and 2%, respectively, when compared with the electrokinetic remediation. This is due to an addition of a pressure flushing by a pump to an electro-osmosis and an electro-migration for a higher permeability of a soil. The flushing effect on the electrokinetic-flushing remediation was larger within 4 days of a remediation, but that of the electrokinetic-flushing remediation was reduced after 4 days.