In situ electrokinetic remediation of As-, Cu-, and Pb-contaminated paddy soil using hexagonal electrode configuration: a full scale study

We investigated the in situ applicability of the electrokinetic process with a hexagonal electrode configuration in order to remediate arsenic (As)-, copper (Cu)-, and lead (Pb)- contaminated paddy rice field soil at a field scale (width 17 m, length 12.2 m, and depth 1.6 m). An iron electrode was used in order to prevent the severe acidification of the soil near the anode. We selected ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a pursing electrolyte to enhance the extraction of Cu and Pb. The system removed 44.4 % of the As, 40.3 % of the Cu, and 46.6 % of the Pb after 24 weeks of operation. Fractionation analysis showed that the As bound to amorphous ion (Fe) and aluminum (Al) oxyhydroxides was changed into a form of As specifically bound. In the case of Cu and Pb, the fraction bound to Fe- Mn oxyhydroxide primarily decreased. The EDTA formed negatively charged complexes with Cu and Pb, and those complexes were transported toward the anode. The energy consumption was very low compared to that on a small scale because there was less energy consumption due to Joule heating. These results show that the in situ electrokinetic process could be applied in order to remediate paddy rice fields contaminated with multiple metals.