ÖNORM EN 12457-4

This part of four European Standards specifies a compliance test providing information on leaching of granular wastes and sludges under the experimental conditions specified hereafter, and particularly a liquid to solid ratio of 10 l/kg dry matter. It applies to waste which has a particle size below 10 mm without or with size reduction (as specified in 4.3.2) NOTE 1 In some cases, it could be useful to test the material with coarser particles up to 40 mm in diameter. This requires a larger amount for material and liquid. In this particular case, particle size distribution related differences in leaching may be more pronounced than in the standard procedure. This European Standard has been developed to investigate mainly inorganic constituents from wastes. It does not take into account the particular characteristics of non-polar organic constituents nor the consequences of microbiological processes in organic degradable wastes. The test procedure specified in this European Standard produces an eluate which shall subsequently be characterised physically and chemically according to appropriate standard methods. NOTE 2 This procedure cannot be applicable to materials with a water content or such a water affinity that a good mixing of the solid with the predetermined quantity of liquid is not achievable. NOTE 3 This procedure cannot be applicable to materials reacting with the leachant, leading, for example, to excessive gas emission, a solidifying effect or an excessive heat release. NOTE 4 By crushing the material, new surfaces are exposed which may lead to a change in leaching properties. This test cannot be used alone to determine the leaching behaviour of a waste, as specified in ENV 12920. This European Standard does not address issues related to health and safety.