United States
 Environmental Protection
 Agency
Hazardous Waste Engineering
Research Laboratory
Cincinnati OH 45268
 Research and Development
EPA/600/S2-87/043   July 1987
 Project  Summary
 Composition of  Leachates from
 Actual  Hazardous Waste  Sites
 J. Bramlett, C Furman, A. Johnson, William D. Ellis, H. Nelson,
 and William H. Vick
  Leachate from 13 hazardous waste
sites In different parts of the country
was analyzed  for  organic  and
inorganic chemical content to
determine patterns and to assess the
feasibility of formulating synthetic
mixtures  representative  of actual
leachates.  Leachates  were
approximately 99% aqueous and 1%
organic. Less than 5% of the total
organic  content  (TOC)  was
accounted for in nearly all sites;
consequently recommendations for
synthetic mixtures were based on a
number  of  assumptions  and
compromises. Organic  acids  and
oxygenated/heteroatomic
hydrocarbons comprised the bulk of
the  characterized  TOC  with
halogenated hydrocarbons present in
lesser but still significant quantities.
  This  Project Summary  was
developed by EPA's Hazardous Waste
Engineering  Research Laboratory,
Cincinnati,  OH, to  announce key
findings of the research project that
is fully documented  in a separate
report of the same title (see Project
Report ordering information at back).

Introduction
  The Hazardous Waste  Engineering
Research Laboratory (HWERL) of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA), is interested in determining the
feasibility of formulating a  synthetic
hazardous waste leachate, representative
of actual leachates for the purpose of
testing  containment  liners that are
currently available for use  in landfills
treatment, and disposal facilities. To this
end, the USEPA has undertaken a study
to gather data on the  composition of
leachate from representative hazardous
waste sites across the country.

Approach
   The general approach to this study is
summarized as follows:
   Sfep  1; Site Selection  -  Thirteen
sites were selected for study  based on
geographical location, mix  of weather
conditions,  presence  of  leachate
collection system, and relatively good
management.
   S/ep 2; Sampling and Analysis - Ten
sites were sampled  by the   contractor
and  three were sampled  by  site
personnel.  Field  tests  included
temperature, pH, redox  potential and
conductivity.  Laboratory  analysis
included tests for volatile and semivolatile
organics using  gas  chromatography-
mass spectrometry,  heavy  metals,
cyanide,  chemical oxygen  demand
(COD) and total organic carbon  (TOC).
   Sfep 3;  Data  Evaluation  and
Assessment of  Formulating  Synthetic
Leachate - Laboratory  data  were
reviewed and leachate quality evaluated.
Based  on these data three  synthetic
mixtures have been suggested.
   Step 4; Report Preparation - A final
report, complete with titles, charts and
figures showing data  gathered  and
conclusions drawn was prepared.

Evaluation of Total Organic
Carbon (TOC)
   The TOC of leachates was used as an
indicator of the level or organic loading.
Subsequent  identification  and
quantification of individual constituents of
each leachate  led to the calculation and
assignment of a  portion of the leachate
TOC to each  identified  constituent.

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Combined,  the calculated  TOG  of
identified constituents comprised  a
fraction of the TOG of the leachate - the
larger  the fraction,  the  higher  the
success  of the  analytical program in
achieving maximum identification.

Results
   The leachate samples were analyzed
for  35  volatile,  68  semivolatile and  13
metal priority  pollutants. In  addition, 102
nonpriority pollutant compounds and
families of compounds were identified.
Specifically, the results are presented in
six classes:
   1) organic acids,
   2) oxygenated/heteroatomic
     hydrocarbons,
   3) halogenated hydrocarbons,
   4) organic bases,
   5) aromatic hydrocarbons,
   6) aliphatic hydrocarbons.
   Of these six classes, the organic acids
and   oxygenated/heteroatomic
hydrocarbons constituted  75%  of the
characterized  TOC.  Halogenated
hydrocarbons    and    aromatic
hydrocarbons  were found  in  lesser
quantities in all sites.
   Within  a  given  class,  compounds
having higher water  solubility accounted
for  the  highest  mole  fraction
percentages.
   The leachates were analyzed for  13
heavy metals, 8 of  which were found in
all sites in varying concentrations. These
included  silver, cadmium, chromium,
copper, nickel, lead, selenium  and zinc.
Arsenic in high  concentration was found
in 10 sites.
   The percentage  of  analytical  TOC
which is  accounted for in the identified
organics was less that 10% for 11 of the
13 sites and less than 5% for 6 of the 13
sites. These low percentages  reflect
large quantities of nonvolatile compounds
or nonextractable components. Overall,
approximately 96% of the TOC remains
unidentified.

Leachate Formulation
   While it is recognized that a synthetic
mixture  based on a  mere 4%  of
characterized components  may  not  be
representative of actual  leachates, the
information generated  in  this study is
sufficiently  comprehensive  to  allow
suggestions of three possible formulas:
one  incorporates general  classes  of
compounds in more  fractions found to
exist in actual leachates, and  the other
two formulas utilize specific chemicals
focused commonly  in  more than  five
sites and  at significant concentrations.
   The 96%  uncharacterized organic
carbon may  be represented by high
molecular weight n-alkane or motor oil
that forms a suspension at the 1% level.
This  is based on  descriptions of
materials disposed of at the  waste sites
as being "petroleum based materials" in
nearly all sites.

Recommendation
   The  project demonstrated  the
complexity and the diversity of leachates.
Characterization of leachate constituents
is a  difficult,  time  consuming  and
expensive  task that  requires a  more
concentrated effort  than  was possible
under this  task. More detailed analyses
of fewer samples would perhaps provide
a  more realistic picture of leachate
compositions.  Emphasis  should  be
placed on  the  nonvolatile  and
nonextractable components which
comprise  the bulk  of   leachate
composition.
        *U.S. GPO: 1987—748-012/67190

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  J. Bramlett, C. Furman, A. Johnson. W. Ellis, H. Nelson, and W. Vick are with
  JRB Associates (SAIC), McLean, VA 22102..
  Charles I. Mas/in/ is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
  The complete report entitled "Composition of Leachates from Actual Hazardous
  Waste Sites," (Order No. PB 87-19d743IAS; Cost: $18.95, subject to change)
  will be available only from:
            National Technical Information Service
            5285 Port Royal Road
            Springfield. VA 22161
            Telephone:  703-487-4650
  The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
            Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Laboratory
            U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
            Cincinnati, OH 45268
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
      BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
         EPA
  PERMIT No. G-35
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300

EPA/600/S2-87/043
                       US  EPA
                                   RESIOH  V
                                                       60604
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