Electrodeposition-Induced Precipitation in Sea-Soaked Sediment: A Study for Mitigating Coastal Erosion on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Environmental Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Coastal and nearshore marine environments are dynamic natural systems that continuously change over time. Coastal change is a major concern along many segments of the world’s coastline, which are actively eroding or are vulnerable to its effects (Schwab et al., 2009). Rapid population growth over recent decades has increased the pressure on what remains of the natural environment and revealed the region’s vulnerability to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Compounding the pressure, human activities like seawall construction have reduced the sediment supply to beaches and disrupted the natural flux of sediment along the coast, and impairs marine ecosystem function. Coastal erosion poses a great threat to South Carolina's developed beaches, infrastructure, and tourism, specifically along Myrtle Beach's coastline (Schwab et al., 2009). Therefore, the purpose of this research was to simulate electrodeposition at various voltages on the coasts of Myrtle Beach, SC, as a proposed method to mitigate coastal erosion. In recent years, a new technology was highlighted by Macias et al. (2024) as a potential solution to mitigate coastal erosion called electrodeposition, which is when minerals in seawater, under electrical stimulation, create natural concrete that reinforces the sediment (Carré, 2020). The proposed experiment was designed to run 1.5-6 V at a constant rate over 28 days to determine which voltage would form the most precipitate when induced under electrodeposition in sea-soaked sediment. Qualitative observations indicated the 6 V group created the most visible precipitate, followed by the 4.5 V, 1.5 V, and 3 V experimental groups. Therefore, the presented proof-of-concept design for electrodeposition on sea-soaked sediment was a viable solution to reduce coastal erosion on the coast of Myrtle Beach, SC.

Location

Furman Hall 209

Start Date

3-28-2026 10:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 28th, 10:00 AM

Electrodeposition-Induced Precipitation in Sea-Soaked Sediment: A Study for Mitigating Coastal Erosion on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Furman Hall 209

Coastal and nearshore marine environments are dynamic natural systems that continuously change over time. Coastal change is a major concern along many segments of the world’s coastline, which are actively eroding or are vulnerable to its effects (Schwab et al., 2009). Rapid population growth over recent decades has increased the pressure on what remains of the natural environment and revealed the region’s vulnerability to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Compounding the pressure, human activities like seawall construction have reduced the sediment supply to beaches and disrupted the natural flux of sediment along the coast, and impairs marine ecosystem function. Coastal erosion poses a great threat to South Carolina's developed beaches, infrastructure, and tourism, specifically along Myrtle Beach's coastline (Schwab et al., 2009). Therefore, the purpose of this research was to simulate electrodeposition at various voltages on the coasts of Myrtle Beach, SC, as a proposed method to mitigate coastal erosion. In recent years, a new technology was highlighted by Macias et al. (2024) as a potential solution to mitigate coastal erosion called electrodeposition, which is when minerals in seawater, under electrical stimulation, create natural concrete that reinforces the sediment (Carré, 2020). The proposed experiment was designed to run 1.5-6 V at a constant rate over 28 days to determine which voltage would form the most precipitate when induced under electrodeposition in sea-soaked sediment. Qualitative observations indicated the 6 V group created the most visible precipitate, followed by the 4.5 V, 1.5 V, and 3 V experimental groups. Therefore, the presented proof-of-concept design for electrodeposition on sea-soaked sediment was a viable solution to reduce coastal erosion on the coast of Myrtle Beach, SC.