Feasibility of electrokinetic soil remediation in horizontal Lasagna (TM) cells

An integrated soil remediation technology called Lasagna(TM) has been devel oped that combines electrokinetics with treatment zones for use in low perm eability soils where the rates of hydraulic and electrokinetic transport ar e too low to be useful for remediation of contaminants. The technology was developed by two groups, one involving industrial partners and the DOE and another involving US EPA and the University of Cincinnati, who pursued diff erent electrode geometries. The Industry/DOE group has demonstrated the tec hnology using electrodes and treatment tunes installed vertically from the soil surface. We have demonstrated the feasibility of installing horizontal electrodes and treatment zones in subsurface soils by hydraulic fracturing , a process that we adapted from petroleum industry practices. When horizon tal electrodes were connected to a de power supply, uniform electrical pote ntial gradients of 10-40 V/m were created in soil between the electrodes, i nducing electroosmotic flow that facilitated movement of water and contamin ants into treatment zones between the electrodes. Published by Elsevier Sci ence B.V.