“Acid extractable” metal concentrations in solid matrices: A comparison and evaluation of operationally defined extraction procedures and leaching tests

Abstract

Different frequently used methods to determine the influence of acid conditions on heavy metal release from soils, sediments and waste materials, namely pH stat leaching tests and acid extractions with acetic acid (HOAc) (0.11 M and 0.43 M) and sodium acetate (NaOAc) (1 M) were compared for 30 samples (soils, sediments and waste materials) with different physico-chemical properties and a different degree of contamination. However, no distinct relationship was found between physico-chemical sample characteristics, total element concentrations and acid-extractable metal concentrations in the presented dataset. pH played an important role in explaining the release of metals from the contaminated soils, sediments and waste materials. The pH-shift after extraction with the different acetic acid solutions (0.11 M and 0.43 M) was both explained by the initial pH of the sample and its acid neutralizing capacity. The pH of the NaOAc extract was well buffered and the release of elements from solid matrices by NaOAc was both the result of the complexation with acetate and pH (pH 5). Generally, a linear correlation was found between the amount of Zn and Cd extracted by 0.11 M HOAc, 0.43 M HOAc and 1 M NaOAc. The amounts of Zn and Cd extracted with HOAc (0.11 M and 0.43 M) were comparable with amounts of respectively Zn and Cd released during pH stat leaching at pH 4. However, for Cu, Pb and As, it was often not possible to relate the results of a pH stat leaching test to the results of single extractions with acetic acid solutions.