Sanghee Shin, George V. Chilingar^*, Muhammad Haroun, Bisweswar Ghosh, Najmedin Meshkati, Sibel Pamukcu, J. Kenneth Wittle, Manal Al Badawi

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Sonny Astani Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, USA.
Electropetroleum Inc., Wayne, USA.
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Abstract: The removal efficiency of heavy metals from offshore muds is enhanced in the presence of generated chlorine gas (Cl2). The tests showed a high removal efficiency of heavy metals at the anode end of cores after 24 hours of EK application. In the initial tests, high electrokinetic flow potential was achieved; however, high levels of chlorine gas were produced in the high-salinity environments. The process was improved by controlling and maintaining a certain fraction of the chlorine gas (Cl2) in place. The pH was controlled by the chlorine gas maintained in-situ and transported from the anode to cathode. The transports of four heavy metals were evaluated in this study. The chlorine gas can have two impacts on the transport of metals in the system. One is to oxidize the metal ions to a higher oxidation state and the second is to form chloride complexes, which have higher mobility in the system. Determination of oxidation state and the subsequent metal chloride complex are left for future research.

Keywords: Offshore Sediments; Chlorine Gas Removal; Electroremediation; Contaminated Muds; Electrokinetic Efficiency

Cite this paper: S. Shin, G. V. Chilingar, M. Haroun, B. Ghosh, N. Meshkati, S. Pamukcu, J. Kenneth Wittle and M. Al Badawi, "The Effect of Generated Chlorine Gas on Electroremediation of Heavy Metals from Offshore Muds," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 3 No. 5, 2012, pp. 363-373. doi: 10.4236/jep.2012.35046.

References

[1]   M. H. Haroun, “Feasibility of in-Situ Decontamination of Heavy Metals by Electroremediation of Offshore Muds,” Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 2009.

[2]   S. Pamukcu, “Electrochemical Transport and Transformations,” In: Reddy and Camaselle, Eds., Electrochemical Remediation Technologies for Polluted Soils, Sediments and Groundwater, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2009, pp. 29-65.

[3]   J. K. Wittle, D. G. Hill and G. V. Chilingar, “Direct Current Electrical Enhanced Oil Recovery in Heavy-Oil Reservoirs to Improve Recovery, Reduce Water Cut, and Reduce H2S Production While Increasing API Gravity,” SPE Western Regional and Pacific Section AAPG Joint Meeting, Bakersfield, 29 March-2 April 2008, 2008, pp. 1-19.

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[5]   J. K. Wittle and S. Pamukcu, “Electrokinetic Treatment of Contaminated Soils, Sludges and Lagoons,” US Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratories, Argonne, II, DOE/CH-9206, No. 02112406, 1993, p. 45.

[6]   R. F. Probstein and R. E. Hicks, “Removal of Contaminants from Soils by Electric Fields,” Science, Vol. 260, 1993, pp. 498-503. doi:10.1126/science.260.5107.498