Remediation of sediment additionally contaminated with chromium

Abstract

Sediment is an essential part of the aquatic system which accumulates heavy metals. Changing physical and chemical conditions in the aquatic system can lead to the release of heavy metals into the aqueous phase and endanger aquatic organisms. Chromium is considered to be one of the most common ubiquitous pollutants in the aquatic environment. The trivalent form of chromium can cause toxic and mutagenic changes in aquatic organisms. The aim of this paper was to investigate the possibility of remediation of the sediment from Veliki bački canal additionally contaminated with chromium compounds by conventional electrokinetic and stabilization/solidification treatment. Electrokinetic treatment was used for the accumulation of chromium in the anode part of the electrokinetic cell. Lime was used to stabilize anode part of the sediment in stabilization/solidification treatment. The results indicated high mobility of chromium within the electrokinetic cell, and effective immobilization of chromium by the addition of lime.