In this study, the mechanisms on ultrasonication enhanced metals extraction were investigated compared with the conventional washing technique. We hypothesized the mechanisms on enhanced extraction of ultrasonication: ultrasonication increased the temperature of soil slurry and decreased average particle size of soil due to breakdown of soil aggregate. Actually, the ultrasonication increased the temperature of soil slurry to $60^{\circ}C$ in this study, and the increase in the temperature enhanced the metal extraction to 15-20% even in the conventional simple mixing. The conventional washing technique decreased average size of soil particles because of breakdown of soil aggregate, and the ultrasonication decreased the size more than that of washing. The breakdown of soil aggregate improved the contact between metals and washing agent, which enhanced the extraction of metals in the ultrasonication. Therefore, we concluded that the main mechanisms of ultrasonication are increase in the temperature and breakdown of the soil aggregate. Finally, the ultrasonicaiton increased the extractability of metals upto 40% compared to conventional washing technique.

Keywords: Ultrasonication;Metal extraction;Mechanism;Metal-contaminated soil;Sequential extraction;