Permeable Reactive Barrier Remediation Technique Using Carbonized Food Waste in Ground Contaminated with Combined Cu and Pb

In recent years, with the escalation of food waste generation, stringent legal constraints on landfill usage and incineration have necessitated the exploration of alternative disposal methods, augmenting interest in diverse recycling strategies. Notably, carbonized food waste (CFW), a byproduct of food waste carbonization, has emerged as an efficacious adsorbent for pollutant removal. This study focuses on the application of in situ remediation techniques, specifically electrokinetic (EK) remediation combined with enhancers, to decontaminate soil afflicted with single or multiple heavy metals. The utilization of a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) infused with CFW aims to mitigate secondary environmental repercussions, including the propagation of contaminants in soil and groundwater. Experiments were conducted on clay samples contaminated with copper, lead, or a combination thereof. Observations revealed that the current density peaked during the initial 1–2 days of the experiment, experienced a resurgence post-electrode exchange, and subsequently diminished. The efficacy of metal removal was predominantly pronounced for copper, with remediation rates ranging from 85% to 92% in singly contaminated samples and 75% to 89% in dually contaminated samples after a 10-day treatment period, incorporating an electrode exchange on the eighth day. Conversely, the efficacy of lead removal was markedly lower, with rates of 0.6% to 33% in singly contaminated samples and 14% to 25% in combined contamination scenarios, suggesting the necessity for extended treatment durations. The post-experimental moisture content indicated successful enhancer injection. Additionally, pH measurements affirmed that heavy metals migrated effectively within the sample matrix, facilitated by the EK phenomenon after the electrode exchange. This study highlights the potential of CFW within PRBs for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils, although the removal efficiencies between different metals is variable, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches in the treatment of lead-contaminated environments.