This part of ISO/TS 21268 specifies a test method to obtain information on the short- and long-term leaching behaviour and characteristic properties of materials.

It applies to the determination of the influence of pH on the leachability of inorganic and organic constituents from soil and soil material, and the ecotoxicological effects of eluates with respect to microorganisms, fauna and flora. The test is not suitable for constituents that are volatile under ambient conditions. The equilibrium condition, as defined in this part of ISO/TS 21268, is established by the addition of predetermined amounts of acid or base to reach desired final pH values.

The test procedure specified in this part of ISO/TS 21268 produces eluates that are subsequently characterized by physical, chemical and ecotoxicological standard methods.

For the purposes of ecotoxicological tests, the relevant pH range (see 9.2) will usually be pH 5 to 9.

NOTE 1 Volatile organic constituents include the low molecular weight components in mixtures such as mineral oil.

NOTE 2 It is not always possible to optimize test conditions simultaneously for inorganic and organic constituents and optimum test conditions may also vary between different groups of organic constituents. Test requirements for organic constituents are generally more stringent than those for inorganic constituents. The test conditions suitable for measuring the release of organic constituents will generally also be applicable to inorganic constituents.

NOTE 3 For ecotoxicological testing, eluates representing the release of both inorganic and organic contaminants are needed. In this document, ecotoxicological testing is meant to include genotoxicological testing.