Neutron activation analysis of toxic and other elements in Czechoslovakian solid waste products. Pt. I

A set of IRANT environmental reference materials (RMs) of brown coal fly ashes denoted ENO, EOP, ECH, and ECO were analysed by INAA and checked by means of simultaneous analysis of NBS SRM 1633a fly ash. It was concluded that the IRANT RMs are sufficiently homogeneous for sample weights of ≥ 25 mg and that the IRANT certified or information values for 25-40 elements are reliable. Leachable forms of the elements Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn were studied by INAA and AAS in soils contaminated by sewage sludges from a metallurgical plant. Increased levels of the elements Ag, Cd, Pb and Zn were detected in the soils. The IAEA CRMs Soil-5 and Soil-7 were also analysed for quality control purposes. A multi-step sequential leaching procedure was used which is designed to partition metals into five fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter and residual. Of the elements studied, Cd appeared to be most readily solubilized, which makes the element potentially bioavailable. In the future, the following studies are envisaged: (1) IRANT environmental RMs of Steel Plant Flue Dust OK and Copper Smelting Plant Flue Dust KHK will be tested by INAA, (2) the determination of toxic and other trace elements by INAA and AAS in industrially contaminated sewage sludges and soils, and the study on leachable element forms will be continued, and (3) the determination of toxic and other trace elements by INAA in fly ashes originating from large combustion sources burning brown coal and heavy oil, and the evaluation of differences in composition of both types of fly ashes, will be carried out. 5 refs, 2 tabs