D.3.2 Procedure

1-L amber glass sample bottles for organic contaminants

250-mL plastic sample bottles for metals

Dredged material

D.3.2 Procedure

a. For organic contaminant leaching, use clean stainless steel centrifuge

tubes, stainless steel spatulas, and glass filtration apparatus according to

instructions for analysis of organic contaminants in SW-846, Test

Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington,

DC 20460 (USEPA 1986). Combust glass fiber filter and prefilter at

400 EC for 15 min.

b. For metal contaminant leaching, use clean polycarbonate centrifuge

tubes, stainless steel spatulas, and polycarbonate filtration apparatus

according to instructions for metals analysis in SW-846 (USEPA 1986).

c. Prepare forms and labels. Conduct percent solids determination on

mixed sediment sample and calculate solids and water content and

required weights of water and sediment to achieve a water to solids ratio

of 4:1 (weight of pore water + weight of distilled deionized (DDI)

water/dry weight of sediment).

d. Seal the glove box, and using alternate vacuum and nitrogen addition,

purge and vent until the oxygen meter registers 0 percent. Ensure that a

slight overpressure of nitrogen exists inside the glove box. This can be

determined by observation of a slight expansion of the rubber gloves

attached to the glove box.

e. Add all necessary equipment to the glove box through the airlock. Cycle

as necessary to remove any residual oxygen.

f. In the glove box, remix the sediment to ensure uniformity. Place a

centrifuge bottle with cap on the balance and record the weight. Tare

the centrifuge bottle and cap and load with sediment to the desired

weight. Record the weight of the sediment added. Tare the centrifuge

bottle, cap, and added sediment, and add DDI water to bring the final

water to sediment ratio to 4:1. Wipe sediment from any surface that

contacts the o-ring of the leakproof top. Record the weight of DDI

water, then zero the balance and record the weight of bottle, cap,

sediment, and leach water. Bottles should be loaded such that pairs of

bottles balance to within 2 g. For organic contaminants, multiple bottles

may be required to obtain sufficient leachate (1 L) for chemical analysis.

g. Ensure that all centrifuge bottles are sealed, then remove the bottles from

the glove box, and transfer them to a tumbler. Tumble the samples for

D11

Appendix D Leachate Testing Procedures