Effect of selected conditions on fluorine recovery from a soil, using electrokinetics
Résumé
Definition and implementation of adapted conditions for decontamination a fluorine polluted soil, using an electrokinetic process are described. Chemical batch extractions were first performed to evaluate the efficiency of some parameters like pH, nature of reagents for fluorine removal from the soil. The results showed that fluorine mobilization in the soil studied was pH dependent. The alkaline pH was favorable to fluorine recovery. In this medium, F− was the only predominant species in solution. Three laboratory electromigration tests were subsequently performed under controlled pH conditions. The results indicated that the fluorine recovery from the soil was obtained using a simple addition of water at the cathode. In water added at the cathode allowed generation of hydroxide ions which were then transported by electromigration toward the anode, increasing pH in the soil in about 10 days. This in situ OH production has the advantage of limiting reagent addition. A pH control was then achieved at the anode (by flushing it with a dilute alkaline solution) in order to prevent an undesirable low pH resulting from generation of hydronium ions. With such conditions, the part of mobilizable fluorine was removed in less than 30 days.