Electrokinetic Soil Desalinization System and Method

A method for desalinization of soil, the method comprising:

• sinking at least one cathode into the soil, the at least one cathode including a hollow cathode tube perforated along its length to allow liquid water to pass through the cathode tube from an exterior thereof to an interior thereof, and a cathode conductor extending along an exterior surface of the cathode tube;
• sinking at least one anode into the soil, the at least one anode including a hollow anode tube perforated along its length to allow liquid water to pass through the anode tube from an exterior thereof to an interior thereof, and an anode conductor extending along an exterior surface of the anode tube;
• providing direct current electricity having a negative polarity connected to the cathode conductor and a positive polarity connected to the anode conductor, the electricity having sufficient power to attract sodium ions in the soil to the at least one cathode and chloride ions in the soil to the at least one anode, whereby water in the interior of the cathode tube becomes rich in the sodium ions, and water in the interior of the anode tube becomes rich in the chloride ions;
• and
• conveying water with a high concentration of chloride ions from an interior of the anode tube through an anode discharge line communicating with the interior of the anode tube, and conveying water with a high concentration of sodium ions from an interior of the cathode tube through a cathode discharge line communicating with the interior of the cathode tube.

A system for electrokinetic desalinization of soil, the system comprising:

• at least one cathode having a hollow cathode tube perforated along its length to allow liquid water to pass through the cathode tube from an exterior thereof to an interior thereof, and a cathode conductor extending along an exterior surface of the cathode tube;
• at least one anode having a hollow anode tube perforated along its length to allow liquid water to pass through the anode tube from an exterior thereof to an interior thereof, and an anode conductor extending along an exterior surface of the anode tube;
• a make-up water line communicating with the interior of the anode tube and/or the interior of the cathode tube to supply make-up water to the anode tube and/or the cathode tube;
• an anode discharge line communicating with the interior of the anode tube;
• and
• a cathode discharge line communicating with the interior of the cathode tube.