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The analyses carried out in the Environmental Engineering laboratory to evaluate the main physical and chemical parameters of liquid and solid samples and to assess their environmental compatibility with reference to specific disposal and/or reuse options are performed applying official methods (such as APAT, IRSA-CNR, ASTM, USEPA, UNI-EN standardized procedures).
Here below the principal types of analysis carried out for each type of environmental matrix are listed.
Water
The main analyzed parameters include:
- pH, temperature, conductivity and Redox potential
- Total dissolved solids and total suspended solids contents
- Fixed and volatile solids contents
- Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
- Total and dissolved organic carbon contents (TOC and DOC)
- Content of organic constituents by spectrophotometric or GC-MS/GC-FID analysis
- Content of inorganic constituents by spectrophotometric or ICP-OES analysis.
Soils and sediments
The main analyzed parameters include:
- Particle size distribution by sieve analysis
- pH
- Water content
- Total organic carbon (TOC) and inorganic carbon (IC) contents
- Content of inorganic contaminants by acid digestion of the samples followed by ICP-OES analysis of the obtained solutions
- Content of organic contaminants by applying specific extraction procedures followed by GC-MS or GC-FID analysis
- Environmental behaviour by applying standardized leaching tests
Waste and process or treatment residues
The analysis carried out on municipal solid waste, residues from industrial processes (steel slag and gassification slag) and residues generated from waste treatment processes such as waste to energy ash and slag, refuse derived fuel and stabilized organic waste are aimed at classifying the analyzed samples as well as assessing their environmental compatibility with reference to specific disposal and/or reuse options selected in compliance with the criteria established by current legislation.
The main analyzed parameters include:
- Major composition
- Particle size distribution by sieve analysis
- pH
- Water content and loss on ignition
- Total organic carbon (TOC) and inorganic carbon (IC) contents
- Calcium carbonate content by calcimetry analysis
- Chlorides content by washing and silver nitrate titration of the obtained solutions
- Soluble sulphates content by acidic washing and spectrophotometric analysis of the obtained solutions
- Content of inorganic contaminants by acid digestion of the samples followed by ICP-OES analysis of the obtained solutions
- Content of organic contaminants by applying specific extraction procedures followed by GC-MS or GC-FID analysis
- Environmental behaviour by applying standardized leaching tests (such as EN 12457-2 or CEN 14429)
- Biological stability of organic materials such as compost and stabilized organic waste by determination of the potential dynamic respiration index