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Development of Leaching Tests for Materials Containing SVOCs and PFAS
Citation:
Garrabrants, A., F. Liu, K. Warne, R. DeLapp, L. Brown, S. Rubin, Z. Chen, D. Yawson, D. Kosson, J. Guelfo, M. Real, H. van der Sloot, A. Touati, AND S. Thorneloe. Development of Leaching Tests for Materials Containing SVOCs and PFAS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-23/382, 2024.
Impact/Purpose:
This is a background information document (BID) for the development and demonstration of updated methods for the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF) for evaluating environmental release of organic (PFAS and SVOCs) and inorganic COPCs over time accounting for changes in the environment that affect the mobility of COPCs. The initial LEAF methods were published in SW-846 in 2019 and were specific to evaluating environmental release of inorganic constituents with focus initially being on coal combustion residues. Different materials of construction are required for evaluating organics and will vary depending on the presence of PFAS and SVOC COPCs. Therefore the updated methods (1313A, 1314A, 1315A, and 1316A) have been modified and the draft methods are available in the BID appendices. The results of different experiments to determine changes to materials of construction have been documented in this report along with providing an understanding of the differences between the methods published in 2019 versus the new updated methods that are in the process of being validated. Based on the results of the validation, the methods will be modified to address any concerns found during the validation. Four labs (one DOE, one DOD, and two large commercial labs) are participating in the validation along with Vanderbilt University. We are working with researchers in Europe, China, Australia, and Israel, in deploying the methods to evaluate a range of materials so that materials management decisions can be make ensuring protection of human health and the environmental from materials use, land application, or treatment from site remediation.
Description:
The Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF) methods provide data required to evaluate treatment options for contaminated soil, assess beneficial use of industrial by-products such as coal fly ash, slag, and flue-gas desulfurization gypsum, and support land application evaluation of waste and materials such as biosolids. In 2019, the original methods (Methods 1313, 1314, 1315, and 1316) were published in SW-846 for inorganic constituents of potential concern (COPCs). The methods are considered to provide a comprehensive characterization of how COPCs in wastes and other materials interact with water under various environmental conditions, thereby providing the ability to predict the mobility of COPCs (including concentrations and cumulative release) over time in response to changing environmental conditions. The methods have been updated to include evaluation of materials containing semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This background information document (BID) describes the adaptation and update of LEAF methods for SVOCs and PFAS, addressing knowledge gaps, especially the need for changes in materials of construction and eluate handling. The revised draft test methods (Draft Methods 1313A, 1314A, 1315A, and 1316A) are included in the appendices as was done for the BID compiled for the LEAF methods for inorganics COPCs). The updated methods will be validated for publication into SW-846. In 2019, the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF) method were published product will describe a framework for methods for the leaching of organics. Similar to the report developed for inorganics, this report will contain information on the environmental drivers for organics and technical issues with analysis of PFAS/PFOA (i.e., background contamination, adsorption of COPCs, and difficulties with materials of construction for LEAF methods for both inorganics or organics). The report will (1) describe a framework for estimating the release due to leaching into groundwater of organic constituents of potential concern (COPCs) from solid wastes and contaminated environmental media (e.g., soils and sediments), (2) summarize available research that evaluates environmental drivers for organics, (3) provide the basis for draft leaching test methods for organic COPCs, (4) identify information gaps that require testing to finalize leaching test methods, and (5) provide the to-be-validated methods. Areas to be addressed includes challenges to address oil sheen, colloids, and filtering issues with semi- and non- volatile organics. The report will also include comparable methods in Europe and approaches in use to address technical issues with analysis non- and semi- volatile organics. The goal is to have one set of methods that can apply to both organics and inorganics for ease and cost of use. The report will be reviewed by OLEM, European colleagues, industry, commercial labs, academia, and others interested in developing more accurate source terms for use in RCRA or CERCLA policy decisions. This will include analysis of PFAS/PFOA COPCs for waste treatment, use, and land application (e.g., biosolids).
URLs/Downloads:
DEVELOPMENT OF LEACHING TESTS FOR MATERIALS CONTAINING SVOCS AND PFAS.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 3149.302 KB, about PDF)DEVELOPMENT OF LEACHING TESTS FOR MATERIALS CONTAINING SVOCS AND PFAS -- APPENDICES.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 9621.889 KB, about PDF)