Removal of phosphate from agricultural soil by electrokinetic remediation with iron electrode

Phosphorus is considered the limiting nutrient in eutrophication of agricultural soil in Korea. This study evaluates the coupled application of electrokinetic process by iron and titanium electrodes for removal of phosphate from agricultural soils. Experiments were conducted to evaluate phosphate removal under the following conditions: (I) control; (II) 1% starch addition in the soil without EK; (III) 1% starch addition at the anolyte using a cast iron anode and a carbon cathode; (IV) no starch addition using a cast iron anode and a carbon cathode, and; (V) 1% starch at the anolyte using a titanium anode and a carbon cathode. When an iron anode was used under 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 V/cm, the removal of phosphate was significant at 2 V/cm. The addition of starch also helps to remove nitrate significantly using an iron electrode. The results reveal that iron electrodes result in significantly more removal compared to titanium electrodes.