Electrokinetic Remediation of Phenol-Contaminated Soil: Influence of Operating Conditions on Removal Efficiency and Energy Usage

Soil organic contamination, which causes sickness, arises from unintentional discharges of crude oil, pesticides, industrial effluents, and sewage, presenting a significant environmental issue due to the infiltration of contaminants into groundwater. One possible technique for cleaning up and removing pollutants from soil is electrokinetic remediation. This research involved an electrokinetic analysis of clay loam soil to examine the influence of electrolyte type, electrode configuration, voltage gradient, and pH on energy usage and the efficacy of phenol removal from contaminated soil. Nine experiments occurred following the optimal (custom) design, each spanning seven consecutive days. Each experiment entailed the treatment of one kilogram of industrially polluted soil with a phenol amount of 50 ppm. The findings indicate that pH, voltage gradient, and removal duration substantially influence phenol removal efficiency and energy usage. The phenol removal efficiency attained roughly 66.53%, with an energy expenditure of 0.6350 kWh /1kg of soil.