Field deployment of persulfate-based electrokinetic in-situ remediation

For the first time in Austria, an electrokinetic remediation method using peroxodisulfate synthesized on diamond electrodes for chemical oxidation of fuel hydrocarbons was deployed on a real contaminated site. The experiment was successful in terms of the electro-synthesis of the oxidant on mechanically implanted diamond electrodes and in terms of the electrokinetic distribution of peroxodisulfate. A velocity of 0.04 cm/h could be derived. A decomposition of hydrocarbons could not be proved due to too short operation time resulting in a lack of contact between oxidant and contaminant. Nevertheless, degradation results from previous laboratory assays and the successful distribution of the anion in the field allow the assumption that the new electrokinetic remediation method has potential for hydrocarbon decontamination.