Abstract:
To address the critical bottlenecks of cathodic alkaline precipitation and anodic complex back-migration in electrokinetic remediation of low-permeability heavy metal-contaminated loess, this study developed a novel composite permeable reactive barrier (PRB) material by combining agricultural compost with biochar, and placed it in the anode zone. The effects of compost-to-biochar mass ratios (0:1, 1:1, 7:3, 9:1, and 1:0) on the electrokinetic removal efficiency of Cu- and Pb-contaminated loess were systematically investigated, with the interfacial reaction mechanisms elucidated by Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The abundant hydroxyl (—OH) and carboxyl (—COOH) groups on the composite surface captured Cu-EDTA and Pb-EDTA complexes migrating toward the anode through coordination exchange and surface precipitation, converting them into insoluble phases such as CuCO
3, PbCO
3, Cu(OH)
2, and Pb(OH)
2, thereby achieving in-situ immobilization of heavy metals. At a compost-to-biochar ratio of 1:1, the composite exhibited optimal electrical conductivity and adsorption capacity, increasing the system current by approximately 18% compared to the control without PRB. In the middle-to-rear soil sections (S4-S6), Cu removal efficiency reached 42.3%-62.5%, representing a 15-25 percentage-point improvement over the control, while Pb removal efficiency reached 30.2%-55.7%, with a 10-20 percentage-point increase. After remediation, the bioavailable fractions of Cu and Pb in the soil were reduced by 58.6% and 47.3%, respectively. By fully utilizing agricultural waste resources and operating through a synergistic mechanism of functional group-mediated chemisorption and surface precipitation, this compost-biochar composite PRB material offers a cost-effective and sustainable in-situ remediation solution for low-permeability heavy metal-contaminated sites.