FURI | Spring 2018

Potential Effect of Prolonged Weathering on Heavy Metal Leaching from Heavy-Metal-Treated-Wood

The research goal is to determine the effects of prolonged weathering of discarded heavy-metal-treated wood on heavy metal leaching. Seven heavy-metal-treated sample sets have been collected and prepared according to TCLP. The concentration of Copper was analyzed using ICP-OES. The first control sample set had a Cu leaching average concentration of 6.6 ppm ± 0.6 ppm. The second sample set’s leaching was below the minimum detection limit of the instrument (0.01 ppm). Sample analysis will be repeated to (1) test for additional Cu leaching and (2) test for leaching of other elements presented in solutions used in pressure-treated wood.