Some aspects of electrokinetic soil treatment

One of the innovative and promising approaches to the stabilization of fine-grained soils with low bearing capacity is electrokinetic treatment which can be integrated with other techniques to enhance soil properties. This method could involve applying a low direct current through electrodes inserted into the soil while simultaneously introducing stabilizers through the electrokinetic process. The stabilization achieved in this way contributes to the improvement of the physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics of the soil. However, a significant challenge of this method is the corrosion of electrodes, which occurs due to electrochemical reactions at the interface between an electrode and the soil. When direct current is applied, oxidation and reduction reactions take place at the electrodes, leading to the dissolution of the electrode material. This can cause the reduction of the electrodes efficiency and longevity, impacting the overall effectiveness of the treatment. Consequently, it is important to examine the extent to which electrode corrosion can affect the flow of current and processes in the soil during the application of this innovative method. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to further elucidate the effects that occur when varying the parameters that affect the current flow.