Flow of electrostatic charges in porous media during electrochemical remediation

The electrochemical remediation technique (ℰℜℐ) offers a mechanism for soil treatment at any depth or location. Electrode wells are driven to depths where porous media is saturated with polluted pore water and the ℰℜℐ is then applied to specific subsurface layers. In field installation of single or multiple pairs of electrodes, the relative movement of pore water and pollutants through the porous media undergoing treatment is of interest. In this paper, the electrostatic flow of charges surrounding electrode pairs during the application of ℰℜℐ is examined. Based on the numerical results, design charts, that accounts for electrode pair spacings, applied voltage, electrical currents and conductivity of porous media, were developed. Therefore, the optimum electrode parameters for field application of the ℰℜℐ can easily be obtained.