EPA 1311 Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure

The EPA 1311 standard, prepared by the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), defines a procedure for determining the mobility of both organic and inorganic analytes found in liquid, solid and multiphase wastes.

This procedure need not be performed if the aggregate analysis of the effluent indicates that the individual analytes are not present in the effluent or that they are present but at concentrations so low that appropriate regulatory levels are likely not to be exceeded.

During this procedure, liquid waste (ie waste containing less than 0,5 percent dry solids) is first filtered through a 0,6 to 0,8 µm glass fiber filter. In wastes containing 0,5 percent or more solids, if any, the liquid is separated from the solid phase and stored for later analysis. If necessary, the particle size of the solid phase is reduced. The solid phase is extracted with an amount of extraction liquid equal to 20 times the weight of the solid phase. A special extraction vessel is used when testing for volatile analytes. After extraction, the liquid extract is separated from the solid phase by filtration through a 0,6 to 0,8 µm glass fiber filter. If it is compatible, that is, no more than one phase is formed in the combination, the first liquid phase of the waste is added to the liquid extract and these are analyzed together. If mismatched, the liquids are analyzed separately and the results are mathematically combined to produce a volume-weighted average concentration.

Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure is carried out by advanced laboratories within the framework of acidic rock drainage research. In these studies, if the test results are above a certain level, then the mobility of organic pollutants in the rock sample is high, which indicates that the resulting leachate is dangerous.

Briefly, the EPA 1311 standard was developed to detect organic and inorganic mobility in liquid, solid and multi-phase wastes. The biggest benefit of these tests is that they support businesses to prove themselves in terms of protecting the natural environment. Especially in the mining area, it is important to detect acidic rock drainage before it occurs and to take the necessary measures to prevent it.

Our organization, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it has given for businesses in various sectors, Test in accordance with the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure within the scope of EPA 1311 standard services.