Sodium chloride in composts from Korean food waste was removed by electrokinetic method. The concentration of sodium chloride in composts was lowered to 1.65 wt% from 3.35 wt% by washing, but 0.15 wt% from 3.35 wt% by electrokinetic method at constant current of 3 mA/㎠ within 36h.
Main factors which had great influences in the removal of sodium were time and current density. The effect of initial water content was insignificant as long as was maintained over threshold level. The pH of composts decreased to 6.72 from 8.15 by electrolysis reaction. Due to the difference in relative ionic mobility, less than 9% of calcium was removed by electrokinetics, which is one of the most useful nutrients in composts. The removal efficiency of sodium per time and current density was decreased exponentially, and was proportion to the consumption of electrical energy.
