Groundbeds consisting of chromium, silicon rich cast iron anodes surrounded by petroleum coke breeze are widely used to maintain cathodic protection potentials on underground steel structures. Hundreds of these anode systems are installed in shallow and deep groundbeds along a pipeline system. Problems at one particular anode bed in 1994 raised concems that toxic species might be generated by the electrochemical oxidation reactions that occur in these anode beds. This paper summarizes lab and field investigation of these concerns.
Keywords: anode, groundbed, environmental impact, metals,
polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons