Theory of Electroosmosis in Soil

Abstract

This paper aims to review the electroosmosis in soils. Electroosmosis is movement of a fluid with respect to a solid wall as a result of an applied electric potential gradient. The Helmholtz- Smoluchowski model is widely to describe electroosmosis processes. The rate of elecro-osmotic flow is controlled by the coefficient of electro-osmotic permeability of the soil which is zeta potential dependent. Numbers of researchers have studied the variation of the coefficient of electro-osmotic permeability of soils. These values range from 4.91×10-06 to 1.57×10-05 cm2s’-1V-1.