SAMPLE ANALYSIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: WASTE ACT (ACT NO.59 OF 2008).
UIS Organic Laboratory has developed and implemented a series tests and TCLP extractions on liquid and solid wastes as directed by the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Act No.59 of 2008). In accordance with the act all waste to be discarded is to undergo a risk assessment before disposal. This required assessment includes the analysis of any solid and/or liquid wastes for a list of Organic and Inorganic compounds as set forth in the draft legislation (See list of compounds below). All Organic compounds are analysed in-house while inorganic analyses are outsourced to select partners.
A TCLP leach is required for any solid waste sample containing a listed compound above the prescribed minimum limit. The purpose of this leach is to realistically quantify the leachability of said contaminants found in solid wastes. As specified by the act, all leaches are done in accordance with the Australian Standard – Wastes, Sediments and Contaminated Soils AS4439. For the purpose of analysis two leaches are done – a TCLP Zero Headspace (ZHE) leach for volatiles as well as a TCLP Bottle leach for non-volatile inorganics.
The ZHE leaching procedure is specifically designed to minimise loss of volatile compounds from the leach through the use of a gas tight leaching vessel and its use is required for all organic analytes.
Different leach types are available depending on the type of waste received as specified in the AS4439 method, listed in the tables below. As the leach type is determined by the disposal method of the waste, leach fluid selection falls to each individual client and cannot be determined by the laboratory.
UIS Organic Laboratory uses GC-MSMS for the analysis of the PCBs/SVOC and PAH which triple quadruples design, filters out unwanted noise resulting in cleaner spectrums. Using MSMS results in more accurate identification and quantification of analyses.
ZHE LEACHING FLUIDS
| Class | Landfill Category | Leaching Fluid |
| Class 1 | In Situ – to be left undisturbed at the site | Reagent Water |
| Class 2 | Monofilled 2a Putrescible Material 2b Non-putrescible Material | Acetate Buffer pH5 Reagent Water |
| Class 3 | Co-disposed with 3a Putrescible Material 3b Non-putrescible Material | Acetate Buffer pH5 Acetate buffer pH5 AND Tetraborate Buffer pH9.2 (ie TWO leaches) |
| Class 4 | Disposed of without confinement i.e. dispersed over land | Reagent Water |
Table 1 – ZHE Leaching Fluid Selection
TCLP BOTTLE LEACHING FLUIDS
| Class | Landfill Category | Leaching Fluid |
| Class 1 | In Situ – to be left undisturbed at the site | Reagent Water |
| Class 2 | Monofilled 2a Putrescible Materia l2b Non-putrescible Material | Acetate Buffer pH5 Reagent Water |
| Class 3 | Co-disposed with 3a Putrescible Material 3b Non-putrescible Material | Acetate Buffer pH5 Acetate buffer pH5 AND Tetraborate Buffer pH9.2 (ie TWO leaches) |
| Class 4 | Disposed of without confinementi.e. dispersed over land | Reagent Water |
Table 2 – Bottle Leaching Fluid Selection
Millipore Hazardous Waste Filtration System (ZHE)
Waste Disposal Act – Minimum Requirements – List of Required Compounds
Waste Act Sample Analysis
VOCs
Benzene
Carbon Tetrachloride
Chloroform
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
1,2-Dichloroethane
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
Ethylbenzene
Hexachlorobutadiene
Isopropylbenzene
Naphthalene
1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
Xylenes total
1,2,3 Trichlorobenzene
SVOC
Hexachlorobenzene
Benzo(a)pyrene
PHENOLS
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol
Cresols
Phenol
Waste Disposal Act – Full Requirements – List of Required Compounds
VOCs
Benzene
Carbon Tetrachloride
Chlorobenzene
Chloroform
1,2-Dichlorobenzene
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
1,2-Dichloroethane
Ethyl benzene
Hexachlorobutadiene
Isopropylbenzene
MTBE
Naphthalene
Styrene
1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
Toluene
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
Xylenes total
1,2,4 Trichlorobenzene
1,2,3 Trichlorobenzene
Dichloromethane
1,1-Dichloroethylene
1,2-Dichloroethylene
Tetrachloroethylene
Trichloroethylene
SVOCs
Benzo(a)pyrene
Di (2 ethylhexyl) Phthalate
Hexachlorobenzene
Nitrobenzene
2,4 Dinitrotoluene
Hexachloroethane
Total PAH’s
PHENOLS
Cresols
2-Chlorophenol
2,4-Dichlorophenol
Pentachlorophenol
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol
Phenols (total,non-halogenated)
Pesticides
Adrin
Dieldrin
DDT
DDE
DDD
Heptachlor
Chlordane
2,4 Dichlorophenoxy-
acetic Acid
Metal Ions
As, Arsenic
B, Boron
Ba, Barium
Cd, Cadmium
Co, Cobalt
Cr Total, Chromium Total
Cr (VI), Chromium (VI)
Cu, Copper
Hg, Mercury
Mn, Manganese
Mo, Molybdenum
Ni, Nickel
Pb, Lead
Sb, Antimony
Se, Selenium
V, Vanadium
Zn, Zinc
Inorganics
TDS
Chloride
Sulphate
NO3 as N, Nitrate-N
F, Fluoride
CN- (total), Cyanide Total
Polars
2-Butanone
Vinyl Chloride
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde
TPH
Petroleum H/Cs,C6-C9
Petroleum H/Cs,C10 to C36
PCB
Ballsmitters Totals