ELECTRODE PLACEMENT FOR SUBSURFACE ELECTRIC-FIELD GENERATION

A technique is presented for determining the electrode configuration r equired for developing a subsurface electric field with specific direc tion and intensity. The complex potential offers a convenient means to describe the electric field associated with a particular electrode co nfiguration. The electrode configurations required to construct variou s electric fields are described. Generation of specific electric field s in saturated fine-grain soils and electrochemical environments allow s one to evaluate if the associated electrokinetic forces might drive pollutant species in particular directions to confine the pollutant or establish a barrier The subsurface electric field can also be used wi th specific bacteria for electrobioremediation.