EFECTO DEL TIEMPO DE TRATAMIENTO SOBRE LA EFICIENCIA DE ELECTROREMEDIACIÓN DE ANDISOLES CONTAMINADOS CON METALES PESADOS - Effect of treatment time on the electroremediation efficiency of andisols contaminated with heavy metals

The effect of the treatment time on the electroremediation efficiency of lead and cadmium ions in two andisols of Tenerife, Spain, was studied.  It was obsd. that the mechanism of diffusion plays an important role in the mobilization of ions in the direction of the electrodes chambers.  For cadmium a low retention on the soil is verified and it is easily transported towards the washing solns.  The segments next to the electrodes quickly reach a state of balance in relation to the amt. of free pollutant metal.  Both metals are transported by migration towards the cathode where part of they are electroplated and the rest move to the washing soln. as insol. compds.  For the exptl. conditions used in this work, an efficiency practically independent with the treatment time is obsd. for lead.