Enhanced electrokinetic remediation of nuclear fission products in organic-rich soils
Enhanced electrokinetic remediation of nuclear fission products in organic-rich soils
Electrokinetic remediation, EKR, is technology that circumvents the traditional challenges faced by many existing remediation technologies in low permeability substrates. Cheap, non-toxic additives such as KCl may further help EKR remediation efficiency by increasing electrolyte strength; their use has been reported in concretes, but not soils. Here, we investigate the efficiency of low-energy EKR (with and without electrolyte additives) in the mobilisation of radiostable Cs and Sr in a clayey, organic-rich soil. Soil maturation time and voltage are key factors in determining success of EKR. Although Cs and Sr are effectively mobilised (up to 317 and 330%, respectively) in the electric field in our soils (determined by XRF), maturation time (7 or 45 days) and voltage (15 or 20 V) are key to successful remediation using EKR. We more broadly show that understanding speciation and the local ionic environment of relevant radionuclides within entrained matrices is vital to effective application of this technology.
Electrokinetic remediation, Fission products, Nuclear site remediation
1-7
Purkis, Jamie m.
17c76efb-2aa2-429e-92b3-5a21de7b02a5
Tucknott, Andrew
4380c28c-c720-4286-be8d-2d220dcc21ba
Croudace, I.W.
e6c03e47-aa92-49e6-8176-9feaf284e437
Warwick, Phillip
f2675d83-eee2-40c5-b53d-fbe437f401ef
Cundy, Andy
994fdc96-2dce-40f4-b74b-dc638286eb08
Purkis, Jamie m.
17c76efb-2aa2-429e-92b3-5a21de7b02a5
Tucknott, Andrew
4380c28c-c720-4286-be8d-2d220dcc21ba
Croudace, I.W.
e6c03e47-aa92-49e6-8176-9feaf284e437
Warwick, Phillip
f2675d83-eee2-40c5-b53d-fbe437f401ef
Cundy, Andy
994fdc96-2dce-40f4-b74b-dc638286eb08
Purkis, Jamie m., Tucknott, Andrew, Croudace, I.W., Warwick, Phillip and Cundy, Andy
(2020)
Enhanced electrokinetic remediation of nuclear fission products in organic-rich soils.
Applied Geochemistry, , [104826].
(doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104826).
Abstract
Electrokinetic remediation, EKR, is technology that circumvents the traditional challenges faced by many existing remediation technologies in low permeability substrates. Cheap, non-toxic additives such as KCl may further help EKR remediation efficiency by increasing electrolyte strength; their use has been reported in concretes, but not soils. Here, we investigate the efficiency of low-energy EKR (with and without electrolyte additives) in the mobilisation of radiostable Cs and Sr in a clayey, organic-rich soil. Soil maturation time and voltage are key factors in determining success of EKR. Although Cs and Sr are effectively mobilised (up to 317 and 330%, respectively) in the electric field in our soils (determined by XRF), maturation time (7 or 45 days) and voltage (15 or 20 V) are key to successful remediation using EKR. We more broadly show that understanding speciation and the local ionic environment of relevant radionuclides within entrained matrices is vital to effective application of this technology.
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Accepted/In Press date: 12 November 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 18 November 2020
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge GAU-Radioanalytical at the University of Southampton for help with ICP-MS measurements. This work has been funded through the TRANSCEND (TRANsformative SCience and Engineering for Nuclear Decommissioning) consortium from the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, EPSRC (reference EP/S01019×/1 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© Elsevier Ltd
Keywords:
Electrokinetic remediation, Fission products, Nuclear site remediation
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 445472
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/445472
ISSN: 0883-2927
PURE UUID: cf884103-0a74-4adf-9b09-7de8aa797764
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Date deposited: 10 Dec 2020 17:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:38
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Author:
Andrew Tucknott
Author:
I.W. Croudace
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