Study on Cu- and Pb-contaminated loess remediation using electrokinetic technology coupled with biological permeable reactive barrier

Lin Wang; Wen-Chieh Cheng; Zhong-Fei Xue; Yi-Xin Xie; Xin-Jiang Lv

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119348

Study on Cu- and Pb-contaminated loess remediation using electrokinetic technology coupled with biological permeable reactive barrier

J Environ Manage. 2023 Dec 15:348:119348. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119348. Epub 2023 Oct 21.

Authors

Lin Wang¹, Wen-Chieh Cheng², Zhong-Fei Xue³, Yi-Xin Xie⁴, Xin-Jiang Lv⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Space Engineering (XAUAT), Xi'an, 710055, China. Electronic address: wanglin@xauat.edu.cn.
² School of Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Space Engineering (XAUAT), Xi'an, 710055, China. Electronic address: w-c.cheng@xauat.edu.cn.
³ School of Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Space Engineering (XAUAT), Xi'an, 710055, China. Electronic address: xuezhongfei@xauat.edu.cn.
⁴ School of Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Space Engineering (XAUAT), Xi'an, 710055, China. Electronic address: xieyixin@xauat.edu.cn.
⁵ School of Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Space Engineering (XAUAT), Xi'an, 710055, China. Electronic address: lvxinjiang@xauat.edu.cn.

PMID: 37866186
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119348

Abstract

Although the electrokinetic (EK) remediation has drawn great attention because of its good maneuverability, the focusing phenomenon near the cathode and low removal efficiency remain to be addressed. In this study, a novel EK reactor was proposed to remediate Cu and Pb contaminated loess where a biological permeable reactive barrier (bio-PRB) was deployed to the middle of the EK reactor. For comparison, three test configurations, namely, CG, TG-1, and TG-2, were available. CG considered the multiple enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) treatments, while TG-1 considered both the multiple EICP treatments and pH regulation. TG-2 further considered NH₄⁺ recovery based on TG-1. CG not only improved Cu and Pb removals by the bio-PRB but also depressed the focusing phenomenon. TG-1 causes more Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ to migrate toward the bio-PRB and aggravates Cu and Pb removals by the bio-PRB, depressing the focusing phenomenon. TG-2 depressed the focusing phenomenon the most because Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ can combine with not only CO₃^2- but PO₄^3-. The removal efficiency of Cu and Pb is 34% and 36%, respectively. A NH₄⁺ recovery of about 100% is attained.

Keywords: Ammonia recovery; Electrokinetic remediation; Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation; Loess; pH regulation.

MeSH terms

Environmental Restoration and Remediation*
Lead
Soil
Soil Pollutants* / analysis
Technology

Substances

Lead
Soil Pollutants
Soil