Transport of Nitrates Through a Clay using Electrokinetics

by

Muniram Budhu, M.ASCE, Marcus Rutherford, Gilliane Sills2 and William Rasmussen

Abstract

In this paper, the results of laboratory experiments to investigate the feasibility of using electrokinetics to transport nitrates (a nutrient) through a low permeability soil are presented. Tests were conducted using a kaolinite soil consolidated from a slurry under a vertical stress of 127 kPa. Sodium nitrate was introduced in a chamber in front of a graphite electrode that becomes the cathode in the electrokinetic process. A hydraulic head was used to reduce the osmotic pressures. The results of the tests reveal that, under laboratory conditions, nitrates can be transported through low permeability soils using electrokinetics.