EN 12457-4 Suitability Testing for Leaching Granular Waste Materials and Sludges - Part 4: Single Stage Batch Test at 10 l/kg Liquid/Solid Ratio for Materials with Particle Sizes < 10 mm

Material Testing

EN 12457-4 Suitability Testing for Leaching Granular Waste Materials and Sludges - Part 4: Single Stage Batch Test at 10 l/kg Liquid/Solid Ratio for Materials with Particle Sizes < 10 mm

EUROLAB laboratory provides testing and compliance services within the scope of EN 12457-4 standard. This part of the EN 12457 standard specifies a suitability test that provides information on the leaching of granular wastes and sludges, and in particular the liquid-solid ratio of 10 l/kg of dry matter. Applies to wastes with a particle size of less than 10 mm or with no or limited size reduction.

EN 12457-4 Suitability Testing for Leaching Granular Waste Materials and Sludges - Part 4: Single Stage Batch Test at 10 l/kg Liquid/Solid Ratio for Materials with Particle Sizes < 10 mm

In some cases it may be useful to test the material with coarser particles up to 40 mm in diameter: this requires a larger amount of material and liquid.

This European Standard was developed mainly to investigate inorganic components from waste. It does not take into account the specific properties of non-polar organic components or the consequences of microbiological processes in organically degradable waste.

The test procedure specified in this European Standard produces an eluate that will then be characterized physically and chemically according to appropriate standard methods. This procedure is not applicable to materials with a water content or water affinity where good mixing of the solid with a predetermined amount of liquid cannot be achieved.

Tests have been developed in different European countries to characterize and evaluate components that may leach from waste materials. The release of soluble components upon contact with water is considered the main release mechanism resulting in a potential risk to the environment during the reuse or disposal of waste materials. The purpose of these tests is to determine the leaching properties of waste materials. The complexity of the leaching process requires simplifications.

Not all relevant aspects of leak behavior can be addressed in a single standard. Tests to characterize waste materials and their behavior can generally be divided into three categories:

  • Basic Characterization tests are used to obtain information about the short- and long-term leaching behavior and characteristics of waste materials. Factors controlling leakage such as liquid/solid (L/S) ratios, leakage composition, pH, redox potential, complexing capacity and physical parameters are considered in these tests;
  • Compatibility tests are used to determine whether the waste complies with certain reference values. The tests focus on key variables and leaching behavior identified by the baseline characterization tests;
  • On-site verification tests are used as a quick check to confirm that the waste is the same as the one that has been subjected to conformity tests.

This procedure cannot be applied to materials that react with the leachate, for example causing excessive gas emission, a solidifying effect or excessive heat release. By crushing the material, new surfaces are exposed that can lead to a change in leaching properties.

EUROLAB, with its more than 25 years of experience, state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, helps you get precise and fast results. Do not hesitate to contact our laboratory for your testing and certification requests.

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