Experimental analysis of electrochemical treatment efficiency in enhancing the geo-chemical characteristics of Sebkha soils

Recent climate change has given rise to a growing environmental threat including soil salinity. Sebkha soils are classified as high saline areas usually found in arid and semi-arid regions. The characteristics of these soils make them specially challenging for agriculture, as well as for construction and land management. The Electrochemical Soil Remediation Process (ESRP) represents an eco-friendly and cost-efficient technique for the reclamation of saline soils. Applying soil ESRP is regarded as an effective technique to improve the electro-chemical and geotechnical characteristics of salt affected soils. In this study, Sebkha soil samples collected from the Great Sebkha of Oran (Algeria) were subjected to the electrochemical treatment under controlled laboratory conditions. The experiments were performed in a parallelepiped electrochemical cell under a voltage gradient of 1.5 V/cm during 7 days. Subsequently, oedometer tests were conducted to assess the soil geotechnical parameters. The results of this study show that the electrochemical treatment significantly affects the calcium carbonate content, which decreases as the processing time increases. Nevertheless, the movement of salt ions within the soil matrix induces changes in the electrical conductivity, thus affecting the electrical current flow through the soil samples. Additionally, Changes in soil pH were observed as a result of the electrolysis reactions occurring within the soil during electrochemical process. Moreover, The ESRP modifies the compressibility of the soil samples analyzed in this study through the mechanisms of electromigration and electroosmosis, indicating that ESRP can be considered as an effective technique that improves the chemical and geotechnical properties of Sebkha soil.