Physicochemical and Hydrodynamic Aspects of Soil

Soil is a natural porous material with fluids in its voids. The distribution of the space occupied by solid particles, water, and gases is fundamental to understanding soil behavior under the influence of external actions. The mineralogical and geochemical composition of the system and the characteristics of solid–liquid–gas complex under different fluxes of matter and energy also play determining roles in soil behavior. Changes in the boundary conditions of a soil generate these fluxes, some of which may be of interest for the eventual decontamination of a site. In the specific case of electrokinetic soil remediation, the application of a direct electric current generates a flow of water and solutes and, at the same time, induces other thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical phenomena, which may favor or hinder the remediation process. To better understand and optimize electrokinetic remediation processes, the soil complexity should be analyzed prior to a more in-depth study of the electrokinetic treatment.