Removal of Pb from a calcareous soil during EDTA-enhanced electrokinetic extraction.

Electrokinetic extraction has been tested to remove lead from an Algerian contaminated soil ([Pb] = 4.432 +/- 0.275 mg g(-1)) sited near a battery plant. The effect of EDTA at various concentrations (0.05-0.20 M) on the enhancement of lead transport has been studied by applying a constant voltage corresponding to a nominal electric field strength of 1 V cm(-1) (duration: 240 h). Results of contaminant distribution across the experimental cell have shown efficient transport of lead toward the anode despite the presence of calcite (25%) and the high acid/base buffer capacity of the soil. To avoid ligand loss, which would be anodically oxidized, the cell was modified by adding extra compartments and inserting cation exchange membranes (Neosepta CMX). Thus, simultaneous recovery of EDTA and lead from their chelated solutions has been made possible using the same set-up and by controlling fluids chemistry.

Modeling EDTA enhanced electrokinetic remediation of lead contaminated soils.

Electrokinetic extraction has been tested for lead removal from Algerian contaminated soils. For this purpose, a chelating reagent (EDTA, 0.1M) has been injected into the catholyte. This procedure is expected to enhance the process by desorption of the contaminant and formation of new mobile species negatively charged. A mathematical model based on Nernst-Planck theory has also been developed to predict the evolution of lead distribution across the soil as a function of time. The results of several experiments carried out on various duration (10, 20 and 40 days) have shown the importance on treatment efficiency of pollution age and contaminant speciation as determined by sequential chemical extraction.

Removal of chromium from aqueous solution by complexation-ultrafiltration using a water-soluble macroligand.

A process for purifying waste waters containing heavy and toxic metal such as chromium has been studied. A batch complexation-ultrafiltration process was used to concentrate and recover chromium from sulphate solution. As the chromium ions are too small to be retained by the filter, they are first complexed with a water-soluble macroligand (polyethylene-imine). Factors affecting the rejection rate and permeate flux such as pH, concentration ligand, chloride and sulphate concentration, membrane pore size, applied pressure and extraction factor were investigated. Best operating conditions can be obtained in order to achieve high levels of removal (> 95%). Then, decomplexation is obtained so that metal can be separated from macroligand by a second ultrafiltration plant to reuse the macroligand.

Donnan dialysis of copper, gold and silver cyanides with various anion exchange membranes.

Donnan dialysis is an ion exchange membrane process that can be used for the purification and concentration of diluted solutions. In this work, the behaviour of gold, silver and copper in cyanide medium is examined. Flux of cyanide complexes and corresponding free cyanide are determined using five commercial anion exchanger membranes (AMV, ACS, RAI 5035, ADP and ADS). The results show that the rate transfer depends upon the nature of the anion exchanger membrane. It is observed that the species number in the feed solution influences the transfer selectivity of metal ion complex against free cyanide Thus, gold which forms only one stable species with cyanides is transferred faster through an ACS membrane than copper which forms three species. However, this result is not verified when an ADS membrane is used. A model of the complex transfer through anion exchange membranes based on Donnan dialysis is proposed. A three compartment Donnan dialysis is performed to improve the separation between the studied metals. Decyanidation is also examined and separation factors are calculated. It is shown that Donnan dialysis can be an efficient technique for the separation of cyanides complexes of copper, gold and silver when parameters such as anion exchange membrane and the number of compartments are optimised. An advantage of this technique is also the possibility of recycling all reactants with a good impact on the environment.