12. Electro-kinetics

Electrokinetics is the application of an electric current in soil or groundwater (the water table) to concentrate ionic chemical species (such as heavy metals) near recovery wells (figure 12 ). The technique is currently being tested on a pilot scale, and is proving extremely difficult to implement on heterogeneous soils. The development of this technique continues, despite the relatively small potential field of application.

• Principle

  Electrokinetics is an in situ process for separating and extracting heavy metals, radioelements and organic compounds from the saturated/unsaturated zone, sludge or sediment.

  The aim of electrokinetics is to cause contaminants to migrate according to an electric field, via...