Electrokinetic restoration of saline agricultural lands

Salinization of greenhouse soils has become a serious problem in Korea because of the extensive use of chemical fertilizers to improve crop yield. This study investigated the feasibility of electrokinetic (EK) treatment for reclamation of saline soil. Experiments were conducted using voltage gradients of 1, 2, and 3 V/cm applied for 48 and 96 h. Anions such as chloride, sulfate, and nitrate were transported toward the anode and accumulated there, whereas cations were transferred toward the cathode by electromigration. Among the various ions, the highest removal efficiency was achieved for nitrate: >80% at 48 h and >99% at 96 h. Chloride removal after 96 h was substantially higher than that after 48 h because the longer period of time allowed more electrical transport via electromigration and electro-osmosis. However, the removal efficiency for sulfate and calcium did not change significantly between 48 and 96 h. Soil EC was lower than the initial value in all soil sections at 96 h. The lowest value, 1.8 dS/m, was seen in the experiment employing a gradient of 3 V/cm for 48 h. This study demonstrated that nitrate can be readily removed from soil by electromigration. Further, other ions can also be removed by EK treatment; therefore, it could be successfully used for reclamation of saline soils.