Use of standardized procedures to evaluate metal leaching from waste foundry sands

Miguel, Roberto E. and Ippolito, J.A. and Noriega, Roxana B and Dungan, R.S. (2013) Use of standardized procedures to evaluate metal leaching from waste foundry sands. Journal of Environmental Quality. 42(2):615-620.

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Abstract

As part of the casting process, foundries create sand molds and cores to produce ferrous and non-ferrous metal castings. After the process, a portion of the sand is discarded and becomes waste foundry sand (WFS). The aim of this study was to quantify metals (i.e. Ag, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in leaching extracts from a variety of waste molding and core sands from ferrous and non-ferrous foundries using the Extraction Procedure, Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, and ASTM water extraction procedure. The WFS metal extract concentrations were compared to those found in virgin silica sands and Argentinean and U.S. hazardous waste laws to determine if the WFSs met toxicity limits. The majority of the WFS extracts analyzed, regardless of metal cast and binder type, contained metal concentrations similar to those found in virgin sand extracts and were below levels considered hazardous. Consequently, it appears most WFSs can be beneficially used as a substitute for virgin aggregate in geotechnical and agricultural applications without causing risk to human health and the environment.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1444
Subjects:	Soil > Amendments Soil > Soil quality Water > Water quality
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	26 Mar 2013 22:07
Last Modified:	21 Jul 2015 20:56
Item ID:	1479
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1479