A contribution towards a standard leach test for immobilized low and medium level waste

Abstract The evaluation of the safety, acceptability and environmental impact of an immobilized waste requires the identification and characterization of its relevant properties. One of the more important properties is its chemical stability in aqueous environments. This has led to the development of a wide variety of so-called “leach tests”. There is now internationally a strong body of opinion that there should be a standardized approach to this particular test. This paper discusses the categories of application of test results as they apply to the management of immobilized low and medium level waste products. It then describes a procedure for carrying put a leach test that has been adopted as an interim national standard within the United Kingdom (UK). It concludes that there is now a sufficient concensus of expertise to allow the establishment of an international standard.