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NEXT GENERATION LEACHING TESTS FOR EVALUATING LEACHING OF INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS
Citation:
Thorneloe, S., G. Helms, AND D. Fagnant. NEXT GENERATION LEACHING TESTS FOR EVALUATING LEACHING OF INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS. 5th International Conference on Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management, Chania, GREECE, September 27 - 30, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
To present EPA's research under SHC to implement validated leaching tests referred to as the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF). The primary focus will be on the guidance for implementation of LEAF describing three case studies for developing source terms for evaluating inorganic constituents.
Description:
In the U.S. as in other countries, there is increased interest in using industrial by-products as alternative or secondary materials, helping to conserve virgin or raw materials. The LEAF and associated test methods are being used to develop the source term for leaching or any inorganic constituents of potential concern (COPC) in determining what is environmentally acceptable. The leaching test methods include batch equilibrium, percolation column and semi-dynamic mass transport tests for monolithic and compacted granular materials. By testing over a range of values for pH, liquid/solid ratio, and physical form of the material, this approach allows one data set to be used to evaluate a range of management scenarios for a material, representing different environmental conditions (e.g., disposal or beneficial use). The results from these tests may be interpreted individually or integrated to identify a solid material’s characteristic leaching behavior. Furthermore the LEAF approach provides the ability to make meaningful comparisons of leaching between similar and dissimilar materials from national and worldwide origins.