|
Title:
|
|
Laboratory leaching tests on treated wood according to different harmonised test procedures
|
|
|
|
Author(s):
|
Schoknecht, U.; Kalbe, U.; Zomeren, A. van; Hjelmar, O.
|
|
|
|
Published by:
|
Publication date:
|
|
ECN
Environment & Energy Engineering
|
2-4-2015
|
|
|
|
ECN report number:
|
Document type:
|
|
ECN-W--15-016
|
Article (scientific)
|
|
|
|
Number of pages:
|
|
|
12
|
|
Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Laboratory leaching tests on treated wood were performed during a European robustness study in
the framework of the validation of a tank leaching test procedure that has been proposed for construction
products in order to determine the potential release of dangerous substances which can be transferred to soil and
groundwater. The release of substances has to be determined also for materials treated with biocidal products
according to the requirements of the European Biocidal Products Regulation. A similar leaching test procedure was
already harmonised for treated wood for this purpose. Both test procedures were applied in parallel to wood
treated with the same preservative to investigate whether the results of these tests can replace each other.
Additional experiments were performed to further investigate unexpected effects of L/A ratio on leaching of
copper and duration of storage of treated test specimens.
Results: Both procedures generate similar results concerning cumulative emissions of tebuconazole, copper,
dissolved organic carbon and total nitrogen. The emission rates with time are in comparable ranges for both
leaching protocols. Emissions of copper increased with decreasing L/A ratios. Strong correlation of copper
concentrations and dissolved organic carbon as well as total nitrogen concentrations in eluates indicates that this
observation is caused by co-elution of copper with organic substances. Duration of storage of treated test
specimens affected emissions for the investigated wood preservative.
Conclusions: Based on these findings, results from both test procedures can be used to describe leaching
characteristics and avoid double testing of treated wood to fulfil the requirements of the European regulations for
either biocides or construction products. Leaching of substances from treated wood is a complex process that
depends on its chemical composition and ageing processes.
Keywords: Construction products; Biocidal product; Emission; Leaching; Tank leaching test; Treated wood;
European regulation
Back to List