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Experimental results obtained to date indicate electrokinetic extraction is viable in removing organic and inorganic contaminants from fine-grained soils. However, electrochemical reactions and soil-contaminant interactions that occur simultaneously may enhance or reduce the removal efficiency of the hazardous waste site remediation process. Many sites worldwide are contaminated by lead and its compounds, resulting in lead poisoning. It is difficult to remove lead from fine-grained soil because of the existence of a great variety of lead complexes and their pH-dependent and reversible physicochemical properties. The feasibility of electrokinetic extraction of lead from kaolinites is investigated theoretically, numerically, and experimentally in this study. This is the first paper of two companion papers presenting the theoretical and numerical modeling of the transport of lead species, and electrochemical reactions and soil-contaminant interactions occurring during the electrokinetic extraction process. The comparison between simulation results and experimental results is presented in the second paper.

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and assembly of a new geo-environmental engineering apparatus specifically made to experimentally evaluate the viability, feasibility, practicality, and economics of electrokinetic extraction of conservative and reactive contaminants from fine-grained soils and to develop a better understanding of the various complex transport processes, electrochemical reactions, and physicochemical soil-contaminant interactions during the process. The design criteria and details of each component of the new apparatus are presented. The distinct advantages of the apparatus developed are discussed. Typical experimental results obtained by the apparatus are presented to demonstrate its simplicity of operation and versatility of measuring various parameters at different spatial and temporal intervals.