Effects of Surfactant Adsorption on Electro-osmotic Flow in Electro-kinetic Soil Remediation

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of surfactant adsorption on electro-osmotic flow in a solid-liquid interface for electro-kinetic soil remediation. The surfactant saturation process and its effects on EOF were simulated by solving the Poisson-Nernst-Planck equation, the convective diffusion equation, and the Navier-Stokes equation. Results indicate that surfactant saturation significantly alters electro-osmotic flow velocity profiles, with the flow transitioning from a Poiseuille-like pattern to a uniform, piston-like profile as the surfactant concentration increases. The enhanced electroosmotic flow, driven by increased zeta potential on the channel wall, improves contaminant mobilization and transport. These findings suggest that surfactant-enhanced electro-osmotic flow can optimize electro-kinetic soil remediation by improving fluid and contaminant movement, offering potential for more efficient and faster soil decontamination, particularly in heterogeneous soil conditions.