Removal of heavy metals from sandy soil using CEHIXM process

This paper presents the results of a new process of soil decontamination termed as couple electric-hydraulic gradient assisted by ion exchange medium (CEHIXM) in which a hydraulic gradient is coupled with electric gradient in a non-conventional arrangement for the purpose of electrolysis and ion transport. A suitable ion exchange medium was used to capture and subsequently recover the cations. In this process, heavy metals no longer precipitated in the treated soil near the pretreatment zone. The cations were transported out of the soil and captured in the ion exchange medium. Several laboratory tests were conducted to examine the removal of Pb, Cd, Zn and Mn from sandy soils. The experimental results demonstrated the removal efficiencies more than 97% for all the four heavy metals at an energy expenditure of 345 kW h/m(3) of soil. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.