Removal of cesium and cobalt from soil around TRIGA reactor using electrokinetic method

The characteristics of cesium and cobalt removal from soil around the TRIGA reactor using the electrokinetic method were analyzed and a device to restrain the pH increase in the soil column was suggested. When a NaCl solution was used as the electrolyte to raise the electric field strength, a precipitate was formed in the cathode in the soil column, resulting in a low removal efficiency. Thus, an acetate buffer solution (compound solution of CH3COONa and CH3COOH) was injected into the soil column and acetic acid was periodically injected into the cathode reservoir to restrain any pH increase. Many Cs and Co. ions were transferred by electromigration rather than electroosmosis during the initial remediation period, and no precipitate was formed in the soil column. 96% of the total amount of cesium in the soil column was removed after 5.9 days, while 94% of the total amount of cobalt was removed. Furthermore, the residual concentrations predicted by the developed model were similar to those obtained by experiment.