Electroremediation of a soil contaminated by lead from a battery manufactory effluents

Electrokinetic remediation has been tested to remove lead from an Algerian contaminated soil sited near a battery plant. High level of lead content (4432 ± 275μg/g) mainly causes a pollution of the zone area which is sited nearby an agricultural land. A sequential chemical extraction procedure has shown that up to 71% of the total lead is found bounded to the mineral surfaces symbolised by Fe – Mn oxides. The precipitation of hydroxides observed during the electroremediation with pure water is owed to its electrolysis and it represents a handicap to the process. The use of acetic acid and EDTA to prevent this phenomenon has been studied by means of voltage measurements along the specimen. Prospective experiments were carried out during a fixed period (240 hours) to conclude by a long duration test of 1012 hours with 0.1M EDTA in the catholyte and 0.2M of sodium hydroxide in the anolyte. The voltage has been maintained constant to correspond to electric field strength of 1V/cm. In these conditions, it has been possible to remove up to 76.0% of the total lead content. © 2005 SDU. All rights reserved.