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Sustainable materials management using the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework test methods
Citation:
THORNELOE, S., A. Garrabrants, D. Kosson, G. HELMS, AND M. Baldwin. Sustainable materials management using the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework test methods. In Proceedings, 13th International Waste Managaement and Landfill Symposium, CaglariI, October 05, 2011. CISA, Padova, Italy, -, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
The need for improved leach tests became a priority due to adoption of more stringent air pollution control at U.S. coal-fired power plants resulting in the preferential partitioning of mercury (Hg) and other pollutants to fly ash and other air pollution control residues. Fly ash and other industrial by-products are used in commercial building products, including mine reclamation, highway construction, structural fills, and even toothpaste. Questions have been raised about whether Hg or other contaminants in coal combustion residues (CCRs) may be released based on how the CCRs are managed. A review of available leaching tests was conducted and the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF) was selected for (1) its tiered approach to evaluate characteristic leaching behavior under equilibrium and dynamic conditions and (2) ability to consider the range of conditions that materials may be managed when encountered in the environment. This paper provides an update of an inter-laboratory validation of the LEAF test methods, use of CCR characterization data, and information on LeachXS-Lite to provide data management, analysis and visualization tools when working with the LEAF test methods.
Description:
The need for improved leach tests became a priority due to adoption of more stringent air pollution control at U.S. coal-fired power plants resulting in the preferential partitioning of mercury (Hg) and other pollutants to fly ash and other air pollution control residues. Fly ash and other industrial by-products are used in commercial building products, including mine reclamation, highway construction, structural fills, and even toothpaste. Questions have been raised about whether Hg or other contaminants in coal combustion residues (CCRs) may be released based on how the CCRs are managed. A review of available leaching tests was conducted and the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF) was selected for (1) its tiered approach to evaluate characteristic leaching behavior under equilibrium and dynamic conditions and (2) ability to consider the range of conditions that materials may be managed when encountered in the environment. This paper provides an update of an inter-laboratory validation of the LEAF test methods, use of CCR characterization data, and information on LeachXS-Lite to provide data management, analysis and visualization tools when working with the LEAF test methods.
URLs/Downloads:
Sustainable materials management using the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework test methods