METHOD FOR ELECTROKINETIC SOIL DECONTAMINATION FROM RADIOACTIVE AND TOXIC MATERIALS Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: environment protection; decontamination of clay soils from natural and man-caused radioactive and toxic materials. SUBSTANCE: method includes formation of two cathode cavities in sections of soil to be decontaminated and anode cavity in-between; introduction of electrolyte in these cavities and application of positive and negative dc potential across them; extraction of electrolyte from anode cavity and its supply to cathode cavities; extraction of electrolyte and gas phase from cathode cavities, and decontamination of electrolyte. Prior to applying positive and negative dc potential across electrolytes of anode and cathode cavities electrolyte is fed to soil between anode and cathode cavities in the amount of 0.1-0.5 of volume per volume of soil being decontaminated through perforated tubes. The latter are driven in soil through contaminated soil depth and equally spaced apart. In the process electric conductivity of all soil sections along line interconnecting anode and cathode cavities is monitored by measuring voltage drop across them and by feeding electrolyte to sections with reduced electric conductivity in amount ensuring equalization of soil section electric conductivity. EFFECT: enhanced capacity and economic efficiency; reduced time and power requirement for procedure. 1 cl, 1 tbl