Acid extractable metal concentrations in solid matrices: a comparison and evaluation of operationally defined extraction procedures and leaching tests

Valérie Cappuyns () and Rudy Swennen ()
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Valérie Cappuyns: Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel (HUB), Belgium
Rudy Swennen: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

No 2007/21, Working Papers from Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel, Faculteit Economie en Management

Abstract: In the present study, different leaching tests were applied on well- characterised samples in order to obtain information on the potential mobility of heavy metals and arsenic. The information deduced from the different methods was compared and evaluated. Besides the comparison of heavy metal release in cascade-, column- and pHstat leaching tests, attention was also paid to the assessment of release kinetics during leaching tests and to the mathematical modelling of leaching behaviour. The aim of this study was to understand the origin of possible discrepancies between the results of different leaching tests. The compatibility of the results of different leaching tests is, besides the inherent differences between methods (single batch tests versus dynamic leaching tests, the duration of the tests, liquid/solid (L/S) ratio,…) to a major extend determined by key-factors such as pH and redox potential. Depending on soil and sediment properties (e.g. acid neutralizing capacity (ANC)) these ‘key-factors’ varied during and at the end of extractions and leaching test, even when the initial test conditions (e.g. the pH of the reagent) were equal for all test cases. During cascade- and column leaching tests, pH (which is initially 4) will mostly increase, but the extent of this pH-increase mainly depends on the acid neutralizing capacity of the sample. Therefore, measuring the pH of all leachates that are collected during these tests is mandatory for the interpretation of the results. Moreover, the monitoring of other variables such as DOC, anions and major elements can give indications on the reactions that are responsible for the release of elements (e.g. the dissolution of organic matter) and greatly improve the interpretation of the results.

Keywords: acid neutralizing capacity; contamination; leaching tests; pH (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2007-09
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