Development of a novel electro-dialysis based technique for lead removal from silty clay polluted soil

In this study, a novel electro-dialysis based technique has been developed and used to treat a silty clay soil polluted by lead. The effect of chemical reagents, i.e. tap water at pH 4 (reagent 1) and sodium acetate at pH 5 (reagent 2), on enhancing electro-dialysis extraction of lead from the tested soil was examined. Specimens were prepared by mixing soil with 1000 ppm of lead and were compacted in the dialysate at predetermined dry density and moisture content. Then, specimens were subjected to a predetermined level of current. In the dialysate compartment, anions and cations were removed by charge transport in opposite directions to the anodic and cathodic cells. Meanwhile, in the anodic and cathodic cells, ion concentrations were increased. Thus, concentrated electrolyte streams were produced in alternating cells and cleaned soils were obtained in the dialysate. Both soil pH and lead concentrations were uniformly distributed within the compacted soil specimen during testing. Total lead removal of 80 and 92% was obtained for reagents 1 and 2, respectively. The high removal efficiency was attributed to the separation of electrode reactions from the soil and inclusion of ion selective membranes (ISM), which restrict the movement of counter charged species.