AS 4439.2-1997

Specifies the procedure for the preparation of leachates using zero headspace conditions for determining the contamination potential of groundwater with volatile organic materials due to liquid and solid wastes, soils, sediments and sludges.

This Standard was prepared to provide a method for the preparation of leachates using zero headspace conditions, from liquid and solid wastes, sediments, sludges and soils for assessing the potential of volatile organic contamination of groundwater in a variety of disposal-to-land scenarios.It deals only with the preparation of the leachate and does not describe procedures prior to submitting samples to the laboratory for analysis or sub-sampling.The range of analytes includes any organic compound which is liquid or gaseous at normal temperatures and for which a suitable analytical method exists.NOTE: A list of analyte compounds is given in Appendix A.The procedure is not applicable to encapsulated wastes which cannot be reduced to the specified maximum particle size without breaking the integrity of encapsulation.The pH and the oxidation-reduction (redox) potential, or Eh of a leaching fluid may vary with each disposal environment and is known to affect the leaching of metals and possibly some organic species. No provision is made in this procedure, however, to control pH and Eh during leaching. As an aid to interpretation of results, it is recommended that the Eh of the extracted sample liquid and the solids leachate be measured and reported.

First published as AS 4439.2-1997.