Kinetics of electrodialytic extraction of Pb and soil cations from a slurry of contaminated soil fines

The objective of this work was to investigate the kinetics of Pb-removal from soil fines during electrodialytic remediation in suspension, and study the simultaneous dissolution of common soil cations (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na and K). This was done to evaluate the possibilities within control of the remediation process to leave a final product suitable for reuse. The Pb-remediation process could be divided into four phases: (1) a “lag-phase”, (2) a period with a high removal rate (7.4 mg/day in average at 40 mA), (3) a period with a low removal rate, and (4) a period where no further Pb-removal was obtained. During the first phase, dissolution of carbonates was the prevailing process, resulting in a corresponding loss of soil mass. During this phase, the investigated ions accounted for the major current transfer, while, as remediation proceeded, hydrogen ions increasingly dominated the transfer. During phase (3) the high conductivity and low voltage suggested that removal may be accelerated by increasing the current density. Overall, 97% of the Pb could be extracted, reducing the final Pb-concentration to 25 mg/kg. The order of removal rates was: Ca > Pb > Mn > Mg > K > (Al and Fe).