Significance and Use

This test method is intended as a means for obtaining sequential extracts of a waste. The extracts may be used to estimate the release of certain constituents of the waste under the laboratory conditions described in this test method.

This test method is not intended to provide extracts that are representative of the actual leachate produced from a waste in the field or to produce extracts to be used as the sole basis of engineering design.

This test method is not intended to simulate site-specific leaching conditions. It has not been demonstrated to simulate actual disposal site leaching conditions.

An intent of this test method is that the final pH of each of the extracts reflects the interaction of the extractant with the buffering capacity of the waste.

An intent of this test method is that the water extractions reflect conditions where the waste is the dominant factor in determining the pH of the extracts.

This test method produces extracts that are amenable to the determination of both major and minor constituents. When minor constituents are being determined, it is especially important that precautions are taken in sample storage and handling to avoid possible contamination of the samples.

This test method has been tested to determine its applicability to certain inorganic components in the waste. This test method has not been tested for applicability to organic substances, volatile matter (see Note 3 in 5.15), or biologically active samples.

The agitation technique, rate, liquid-to-solid ratio, and filtration conditions specified in the procedure may not be suitable for extracting all types of wastes (see Sections 7, 8, and the discussion in Appendix X1).

1. Scope

1.1 This test method is a procedure for the sequential leaching of a waste containing at least five % solids to generate solutions to be used to determine the constituents leached under the specified testing conditions.

1.2 This test method calls for the shaking of a known weight of waste with water of a specified purity and the separation of the aqueous phase for analysis. The procedure is conducted ten times in sequence on the same sample of waste and generates ten aqueous solutions.

1.3 This test method is intended to describe the procedure for performing sequential batch extractions only. It does not describe all types of sampling and analytical requirements that may be associated with its application.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D75 Practice for Sampling Aggregates

D420 Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes

D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids

D1129 Terminology Relating to Water

D1193 Specification for Reagent Water

D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass

D2234/D2234M Practice for Collection of a Gross Sample of Coal

D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water

D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits

Keywords

extract; extraction fluid; leaching; sequential batch extraction; waste leaching technique; Acidity, alkalinity, pH--chemicals; Batch procedures; Buffering action; Chemical analysis--waste; Extraction methods; Filters/filter procedures; Leachates/leaching; Municipal solid waste (MSW); Quantitative analysis/measurement--environmental; Sampling waste materials/applications; Sequential batch extraction; Solid phase materials--waste; Solids content--environmental; Wastewater testing/treatment; Water-extractable matter/processing

DOI: 10.1520/D4793-09

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM D4793