Electrokinetic extraction of lead from kaolinites: I. Numerical modeling

Experimental results obtained to date indicate electrokinetic extraction is viable in removing organic and inorganic contaminants from fine-grained soils. However, electrochemical reactions and soil-contaminant interactions that occur simultaneously may enhance or reduce the removal efficiency of the hazardous waste site remediation process. Many sites worldwide are contaminated by lead and its compounds, resulting in lead poisoning. It is difficult to remove lead from fine-grained soil because of the existence of a great variety of lead complexes and their pH-dependent and reversible physicochemical properties. The feasibility of electrokinetic extraction of lead from kaolinites is investigated theoretically, numerically, and experimentally in this study. This is the first paper of two companion papers presenting the theoretical and numerical modeling of the transport of lead species, and electrochemical reactions and soil-contaminant interactions occurring during the electrokinetic extraction process. The comparison between simulation results and experimental results is presented in the second paper.