Abstract
Electro-kinetic remediation (EKR) with sinusoidal electric field obtained simultaneously with DC/AC voltage reduce the polarization of the EKR with DC voltage. The DC voltage value defines the presence of a periodic polarity reversal of the cell and the electrical charge for electro-kinetic transport. In this case, the AC frequency favors the breaking of polarization conditions resulting from the EKR with DC voltage. However, with high frequencies a negative effect occurs where the tailings behave as a filter circuit, discriminating frequencies of an electric signal. The goal of this work is to analyse the electrical behaviour of tailings in EKR experiments. The conditions selected were: DC/AC voltages: 10/15 and 20/25 V (peak values), and AC voltage frequencies 50–2000 Hz. When the AC frequency reaches 2000 Hz, the copper removal tends to zero, indicating that the tailing behaves as a high-pass filter in which the DC voltage was filtered out.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acar YB, Alshawabkeh AN (1993) Principles of electrokinetic remediation. Environ Sci Technol 27:2638–2647
COCHILCO Government of Chile (2011) Anuario De Estadísticas Del Cobre Y Otros Minerales. Yearbook: Copper and Other Mineral, Statistics. 1992–2011
Ha TH et al (2009) Evaluation of EKR system by DC and AC on removal of nitrate complex. Sep Sci Technol 44:2269–2283
Minería Chilena Magazine (2010). Chilean mining compendium, XXI Version. Publications of EDITEC S.A. Santiago de Chile
Nilsson JW, Riedel S (2011) Electric circuits, 9th edn. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs
Probstein RF, Hicks RE (1993) Removal of contaminants from soils by electric fields. Science 260:498–503
Rojo A, Hansen HK, Ottosen LM (2006) Electrodialytic remediation of copper mine tailings: comparing different operational conditions. Miner Eng 19:500–504
Rojo A, Hansen HK, del Campo J (2010) Electrodialytic remediation of copper mine tailings with sinusoidal electric field. J Appl Electrochem 40:1095–1100
Rojo A, Hansen HK, Agramonte M (2011) Electrokinetic remediation with high frequency sinusoidal electric fields, separation and purification. Technology 79:139–143
Rojo A, Hansen HK, Cubillos M (2012) Electrokinetic remediation using pulsed sinusoidal electric field. Electrochim Acta 86:124–129
Rojo A, Hansen HK, Monárdez O (2014) Electrokinetic remediation of mine tailings by applying a pulsed variable electric field. Miner Eng 55:52–56
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the UTFSM Project 27.15.38.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rojo, A., Hansen, H.K., Monárdez, O. et al. Electrical Behavior of Copper Mine Tailings During EKR with Modified Electric Fields. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 98, 304–309 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1858-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1858-8