US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) Extraction Method Development Study for Trace Metals in Leachate

摘要

A study was performed to determine the applicability of currently approved analytical methods for conducting the EP toxicity test required by the Hazardous Waste and Consolidated Permit Program. The first phase of the study was designed to determine the necessity for performing digestion of the EP leachates prior to trace element analysis and also to determine the effect, if any, of preservation on total metal concentrations. The second phase of the study was designed to determine the effect of pH and time on metal concentrations in the leachate from low-pH sludge. The third phase of the study was designed to determine the efficiency of the EP toxicity procedure in extracting metal spikes from three standardized reference materials. A study was also performed to determine if metal concentrations were affected by various matrices encountered using the EP procedures (acetic acid (0.6%), nitric acid (0.5%), or acetic acid (0.6%)/nitric acid (0.5%)).