Influence of soil texture on the electrokinetic transport of diesel-degrading microorganisms.

This work studied the mobilisation of diesel-degrading microorganisms in soils of different textures using electrokinetic techniques. The mobilisation tests were performed using a laboratory-scale electrokinetic cell in which a synthetic soil column was inserted between the cathode and anode compartments. Model soils of different textures were prepared by mixing silica and kaolin at different weight ratios. Microorganisms were obtained from an undefined diesel-degrading microbial culture and located at the anode compartment. In each four hours experiment, constant cell voltage was applied, and samples were taken from the cathode compartment. Changes in the pH due to water electrolysis were found to significantly influence the process performance, and the effect of the carbonate concentration (buffer) was studied to clarify this effect. With respect to soil texture, it was observed that large particle size led to high numbers of microorganisms passing through the soil column, and the presence of small particles, which give rise to small pores, was required to improve the retention of microorganisms. Finally, current-intensity measurements with different soil textures revealed that it was favourable to use only large or small particles, whereas a sandy clay soil (50% silica/50% clay) did not favour any of the fundamental electrokinetic processes.