High Frequency Pulse Reverse Electrochemical Treatment of Concrete for Mitigation of Corrosion

This Phase I SBIR program addresses the critical need for effective dechlorination methods for corrosion protection of bridge deck and piers at US Army facilities. This program proposes an innovative electrochemical technology for dechlorination of concrete, which is cost-effective and suitable for large scale field applications, and adaptable to complex geometries while protecting the rebar within the concrete from further corrosion. The Phase I program will show that the proposed technology will remove chloride contaminants from concrete under an applied high frequency pulse reverse electric field, and accelerate the mass transport rate of ions, lowering operating costs and treatment times. To protect the rebar from corrosion during and after this process, corrosion inhibitors will be driven into the concrete structure using the applied electric field, and the rebar will also be protected using a pulsed cathodic protection system. The project team consists of Faraday Technology, Inc., an electrochemical engineering company that develops high frequency pulse reverse processes, and Terran Corporation, an environmental engineering firm specializing in the field installation and monitoring of direct current (DC) electroosmotic and electrokinetic remediation processes. The Phase I results would be transitioned into field trials in a Phase II program.