Pulse-enhanced electrokinetic remediation of fluorine-contaminated soil

The presence of abundant fluorides in soil can pose potential threats to environment and human health. We investigated the effects of pulsed electric field on electrokinetic remediation of fluorine-contaminated soil by varying the pulse interval. Although the remediation time was increased, experimental results indicated pulse-enhanced electrokinetic remediation could improve the removal efficiency of fluorine better than the conventional electrokinetic remediation in the same intensity of electric field. The fluorine removal efficiency of the former (30 min, pulse interval) was 80.93% and that of normal electrokinetic remediation was 72.40%, because pulsed electric field could reduce the concentration polarization and increase the electrical current, electroosmotic flow and the electrical voltage part in soil cell. Therefore, in the later phase of electrokinetic remediation, when electrical current and the fluorine removal efficiency decreased obviously, at this time the pulse-enhanced method would be a considerable choice to eliminate fluorine in contaminated soils.