The leaching character of materials, products and wastes originating from specific sources, production processes or treatments has been shown to be quite consistent for a given process. This is caused by the fact that the major element chemistry imposed on a material in a given process is very similar. This implies that within a category of materials, products or wastes similar release controlling processes are active. For instance, the substances with potentially critical release behaviour from municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash out of mass burn facilities in different countries are the same and controlled by the same factors [1]. The same is true for many other materials, products or waste types [2,3]. This is helpful, as it provides a reference base of materials characteristics, that can be referred to and allows much more extended conclusions on material behaviour to be drawn than based on results from a single more limited test by placing results from such more limited testing in context with more extended leaching characteristics obtained by characterisation leaching tests (EN 14429, EPA 1313, EN 14405, EPA 1314, EN 15863, EPA 1315).
The characterisation of materials, products and wastes through leaching is best described by a chemical speciation fingerprint (CSF) derived from geochemical modelling based on the pH dependence test data (EN 14429, EN 14997 or EPA 1313) and additional materials properties such as a quantification of sorptive phases (hydrated iron oxide, particulate and dissolved organic matter). Here key release controlling phases are identified by substance and matrix.
Examples for specific materials, products and wastes is provided below:
[1]. H.A. van der Sloot, J.J. Dijkstra, P.F.A.B. Seignette, O. Hjelmar, G. Spanka (2009) Evaluation of a horizontal approach to assess the possible release of dangerous substances from construction products in support of requirements from the Construction Products Directive – emphasis on MSWI bottom ash. 3rd BOKU Waste Conference. Vienna, April 15, 2009.
[2]. H.A. van der Sloot, R.N.J. Comans and O. Hjelmar. Similarities in the leaching behaviour of trace contaminants from waste, stabilized waste, construction materials and soil. Sci. Total Environ., 178 (1996) 111-126.
[3]. H. Saveyn, P. Eder, E. Garbarino, L. Muchova, O. Hjelmar, H.A. van der Sloot, R. Comans, A. van Zomeren, J. Hyks, A. Oberender (2014) Study on methodological aspects regarding limit values for pollutants in aggregates in the context of the possible development of end-of-waste criteria under the EU Waste Framework Directive. JRC-IPTS, EUR 26769 EN.
Examples test data
Geochemical modelling
Source term definition
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