Enhanced Electrokinetic Remediation of Cadmium (Cd)-Contaminated Soil with Interval Power Breaking

This study compared electrokinetic (EK) remediation with and without interval power breaking in the removal of total and plant available cadmium (Cd) in the soil. Two laboratory experiments, i.e. EK remediation with interval power breaking (24–12 h power-on-off cycles) and conventional EK remediation (continuous power supply), with the same accumulated time (192 h) of power supply, were conducted to remove soil Cd. After the EK remediation with interval power breaking, the total Cd removal efficiency in the soil rose to 38%, in comparison to 28% after the conventional EK remediation. As for the plant available Cd, the removal efficiency was enhanced from 52 to 63%. Additionally, the electric current during the EK remediation and electric conductivity after the EK remediation were higher in the soil treated by interval power breaking, which indicated an enhanced desorption and/or migration of charged species. It further meant that the higher removal efficiency of soil Cd by interval power breaking could be related to the enhanced desorption and/or migration of Cd species. This study indicated that both conventional EK remediation and EK remediation with interval power breaking were effective methods to remove soil Cd but EK remediation with interval power breaking was more efficient.