Specialty Leaching Methods
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Leaching is the partitioning of contaminants between a solid and liquid phase (assuming local equilibrium), coupled with the mass transport of the aqueous or dissolved constituents (aka leachate or eluate). The extent of leaching is dependent on the site, material properties (chemical, physical and biological) and the length of time involved.
Eurofins supports a wide array of client requested leaching procedures, including both routine and specialized methodologies. Traditionally, tests such as TCLP (EPA Method 1311) or SPLP (EPA Method 1312) offer a single point leaching test to evaluate the leaching potential of a solid material. LEAF offers an alternative.
LEAF methodologies represent a considerable shift in leaching assessments. While other leaching methods are typically based on single-point pH test, the LEAF tests offer a range of values, offered by four different tests, over various release control factors as well as allowing for flexibility to evaluate site specific conditions.
The LEAF Methods were published as a part of SW-846 Update VI, Phase III which was finalized in May 2019. To access the link on SW-846 Update VI with the final SW-846 Methods 1313, 1314, 1315 and 1316, click here.
U.S. EPA has published a How to Guide for additional understanding of LEAF to facilitate its broader use. U.S. EPA has also published a Methodology for Evaluating Beneficial Uses of Industrial Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials and the Beneficial Use Compendium and using leaching data from LEAF. LEAF may be applicable to support of cleanup decisions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) that address specific contaminants on a site-specific basis.
EPA's SW-846 LEAF Methods
A summary of the Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework Methods is as follows:
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EPA SW-846 Method 1314 |
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Leaching Test |
Summary Description |
Comments |
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Liquid –Solid Partitioning as a Function of Liquid-Solid Ration for Constituents in Solid Materials using an Up-Flow Percolation Column Procedure |
Eluant is introduced into a column with packed particle sized reduced solid material in an up-flow pumping mode. Flow rate is maintained between 0.5-1.0 LS/Day. Eluant is collected at predetermined times, filtered and analyzed for COPCs. Total time of test is approximately 14 days. |
Designed to provide the liquid – solid portioning [LSP] of inorganic constituents and nonvolatile organics in granular solid material as a function of liquid to solid [LS] ratio under percolation conditions. |
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EPA SW-846 Method 1315 |
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Leaching Test |
Summary Description |
Comments |
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Mass Transfer Rates of Constituents in Monotlithic or Compacted Granular Materials using a Semi-dynamic Tank Leaching Procedure |
Leaching of continuously water saturated monolithic or compacted granular material in an eluant-filled tank with periodic renewal of the leaching solution. LS ratio of 9 mL eluant per cm2 of surface area. Eluant is collected at predetermined times and analyzed for COPCs. Eluate is centrifuged and filtered for COPCs. Total time of test is 63 days. |
Designed to provide the mass transfer [release rates] of inorganic analytes contained in a monolith or compacted granular material. Under diffusion controlled release conditions, as a function of leaching time. |
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EPA SW-846 Method 1316 |
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Leaching Test |
Summary Description |
Comments |
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Liquid- Solid Partitioning as a Function of Liquid-Solid Ratio for Constituents in Solid Materials using a Parallel Batch Extraction Procedure |
Five (5) Parallel extractions of a particle-size reduced solid material in reagent water over a range of L/S values from 0.5 to 10 mL eluant/g dry material. Depending on particle size, sample is tumbled between 24 and 72 hours. Eluate is centrifuged and filtered for COPCs. |
Designed to provide the liquid-solid portioning{LSP] of inorganic and non volatile organics at the natural pH of the solid material as a function of liquid to solid ratio [L/S] under conditions that approach liquid-solid chemical equilibrium. |
How Can Eurofins Help You?
The leachability of a material can be a primary performance parameter used to assess the placement or use of that material at a specific site. Eurofins works with your project team to review the available leaching tests and discuss which tests may be appropriate for your material and situation.
Eurofins Environment Testing has been supporting EPA LEAF Methods 1313, 1314, 1315, and 1316 since 2012 on a wide variety of materials including soil, sediment, stabilized materials, brick, road bedding, coal ash, fly ash and ash. We have also developed modifications to EPA Method 1315 to address potential concerns associated with the method for organic constituents or concern utilizing Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
Eurofins also supports many additional U.S. and international published leaching methods. These tests can include batch extraction methods, where the solid material is challenged with one or more aliquots of a solution, or dynamic leaching methods where fresh solution is continuously supplied. These tests can also be equilibrium based or mass transfer based tests. Other leaching tests that we offer, in addition to the LEAF methods, include:
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Eurofins Leachate Test |
Reference Documents |
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Toxicity Characteristic Leachate Procedure [TCLP] |
EPA SW 846 Method 1311 |
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Synthetic Precipitation Leachate Procedure [SPLP] |
EPA SW 846 Method 1312 |
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The Measurement of the Leachability of Solidified Low-Level Radioactive Wastes by a Short-term Test Procedure |
ANSI/ANSI 16.1 - 2003 |
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Standard Test Method for Shake Extraction of Solid Waste with Water |
ASTM D3987-85 |
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Modified Standard Test Method for 24-h Batch-Type Measurement of Contaminant Sorption by Soils and Sediments |
ASTM 4646-03 |
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Waste Extraction Test [WET] Procedures |
22 California Code of Regulations [CCR] Appendix II |
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Modified Multiple Extraction Procedure [MMEP] |
EPA SW 846 Method 1320 Modified |
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Monofilled Waste Extraction Procedure [MWEP] |
U.S.EPA, 1986. A Procedure for Estimating Monofilled Solid Waste Leachate Composition. Technical Resource Document SW-924, 2nd Edition |
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Compliance test for leaching of granular waste materials and sludges |
BS EN 12457-4 |
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Australian Standard Wastes, sediments, contaminated soils Preparation of leachates- Bottle leaching procedure |
AS 4439.3-1997 |
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