Current Status and Future Prospects of Leaching Tests for Hydrophobic Organic Pollutants
Yong-Jin Kim* and Masahiro Osako*Abstract
We reviewed the factors influencing leaching tests for hydrophobic organic pollutants (HOPs) by conducting a review of recent research carried out in Europe on HOPs and studies on the leachability/mobility of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans; PCDDs/DFs). Based on the review, we suggest the requirements for valid leaching tests for HOPs considering the evaluations of risk and quality of municipal solid waste residues and products recycled from them. Factors that we exawined were the quality of experimental materials, leaching time and contact method, leachant matrix, solid-liquid separation method, temperature, solid-liquid ratio, sample size, volatilization and photodegradation. And, with the viewpoint of establishing satety standards for leaching tests , we also exawined the conformity with water environmental standards, the assumed environmental conditions and regulation levels.
Key words: hydrophobic organic pollutants (HOPs), leaching test, leaching time, leachant matrix, solid-liquid separation method, solid-liquid ratio, sample size