THEORETICAL-MODEL OF RADIONUCLIDE EXTRACTION FROM SOILS BY THE MECHANISM OF IONIC ELECTROMIGRATION

A theoretical model is developed for the electrokinetic method of remo ving contaminants and, in particular, radionuclides (existing in an im mobile form) from soil. This method is based on the application of a s teady electrical field to bulk soil placed between electrodes which en sures delivery of the corresponding ligands by the electromigration me chanism and subsequent removal of the charged complexes containing the contaminants which are produced. The analysis presented shows that th e character of the cleaning process depends substantially on the ratio between the rates of the complex formation reactions and the rates of the ionic transport processes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rig hts reserved.