Feasibility of Decontaminating Offshore Muds in-situ....

From Heavy Metals Using ElectroremediationOral Defense by: Muhammad Haroun, Ph.D. Candidate,
Astani Civil and Environmental EngineeringAbstract:Anthropogenic input of toxic contaminants into the environment has lead to detrimental effects to the living environment (hazards to humans, animals, fish, plants, soil media and ground water). The writer concentrated on inorganic contaminants.
The inorganic group, specifically heavy metals, exist in nature in very small concentrations and are known as trace metals. Geologic heterogeneity influences certain regions around the world to be rich in specific heavy metals present in the formation water, for e.g., Arsenic in South East Asia, and Strontium in the U.A.E. Certain industries, including oil and gas, petrochemical, mining, metallurgy, landfills, and sewage systems contribute a significant increase in their concentration in soils and offshore muds, in many cases augmenting the concentrations by several orders of magnitude.
Certain heavy metals at low concentrations, however, may benefit life within our ecosystems, e.g., chromium which accelerates the growth of plants. Once the previous trace concentrations are significantly increased, all form of life are subjected to toxic levels causing detrimental health issues, including cancer.
Among the leading emerging technologies for in-situ soil and ground decontamination is Electrokinetics technology. As a result of application of DC current, cations move towards the cathode, whereas anions move towards the anode.
Electrokinetics technology has been proven to be a viable method for environmental restoration, i.e., the removal of soil contaminants in-situ (Chilingar et al., 1952-2008; Pamukcu el al., 1991- 2008). The results obtained by the writer for heavy metals confirm the above conclusion. The viability of using this technology to remediate the large volumes of offshore muds of Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., contaminated with heavy metals, is feasible.

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