title: Microbial fuel cell driving electrokinetic remediation of toxic metal contaminated soils.
abstract: An investigation of the feasibility of in-situ electrokinetic remediation for toxic metal contaminated soil driven by microbial fuel cell (MFC) is presented. Results revealed that the weak electricity generated from MFC could power the electrokinetic remediation effectively. The metal removal efficiency and its influence on soil physiological properties were also investigated. With the electricity generated through the oxidation of organics in soils by microorganisms, the metals in the soils would mitigate from the anode to the cathode. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in the soils increased gradually through the anode to the cathode regions after remediation. After about 143days and 108 days' operation, the removal efficiencies of 31.0% and 44.1% for Cd and Pb at the anode region could be achieved, respectively. Soil properties such as pH and soil conductivity were also significantly redistributed from the anode to the cathode regions. The study shows that the MFC driving electrokinetic remediation technology is cost-effective and environmental friendly, with a promising application in soil remediation.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China.
authors.forename: Nuzahat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Habibul
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 China. Electronic address: gpsheng@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guo-Ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sheng
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D002104:Cadmium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004566:Electrodes; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead
keywords: Electrokinetic remediation; Microbial fuel cell (MFC); Soil remediation; Toxic metal