Electrolyte conditioning-enhanced electrokinetic remediation of arsenic-contaminated mine tailing

Feasibility of electrolyte conditioning with strong acidic or alkaline solution on electrokinetic remediation of arsenic-contaminated mine tailing was investigated in the laboratory. The mine tailing contained calcium oxide of more than 50%. At alkaline condition, arsenic was precipitated with calcium, and formed calcium arsenate which is very stable solid. Catholyte conditioning with strong acidic solution and anolyte conditioning with strong alkaline solution showed similar efficiency to remove arsenic. At 4 mA cm−2 of current density, the removal efficiency of arsenic was 62% after 28 days operation with catholyte conditioning with 0.1 M nitric acid.