METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ELECTROKINETIC DECONTAMINATION OF SOIL FROM RADIOACTIVE AND TOXIC MATERIALS Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: decontamination of natural and man- caused polluted materials. SUBSTANCE: two cathode cavities and anode cavity-in-between are made in soil to be decontaminated, cavities are filled with electrolyte and are placed at positive and negative dc potentials. Then electrolyte and gas phase are evacuated from anode cavity and fed to cathode cavities. After that electrolyte and gas phase are removed from cathode cavity and electrolyte is introduced in anode cavity. Electrolytes and gas phases removed from cathode cavities are mixed up, gas-phase mixture is separated from electrolyte mixture, and separated gas mixture is evacuated. Then electrolyte mixture is cleaned, its composition is corrected, and compound produced is introduced in anode cavity. Mentioned electrolyte mixture is allowed to circulate continuously until desired cleanliness is attained. Device implementing proposed method has two cathode units with anode unit in-between, separating unit with vacuum pump, transport pump, decontaminating unit, correcting vessel, peristaltic metering pump, and dc current supply. Proposed method and device provide for preventing production of secondary liquid wastes. EFFECT: enhanced capacity, economic efficiency, safety, reliability, reduced decontamination time; simplified design of device. 2 cl, 4 dwg