Using Environmental Simulations to Test the Release of Hazardous Substances from Polymer-Based Products: Are Realism and Pragmatism Mutually Exclusive Objectives?

Bandow, Nicole; Aitken, Michael D.; Geburtig, Anja; Kalbe, Ute; Piechotta, Christian; Schoknecht, Ute; Simon, Franz‐Georg; Stephan, Ina

doi:10.3390/ma13122709

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 75 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, it could be used to vary single factors and better understand outdoor leaching behavior. In [ 46 ], a 24 h weathering cycle for the leaching of organic materials is introduced by Bandow et al As inorganic constituents are partially incorporated into the leached material and generally show another emission behavior than organics, an adaption on concrete would have to be evaluated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaching of Carbon Reinforced Concrete—Part 1: Experimental Investigations

Weiler

Vollpracht

2020

Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The composite material ‘carbon concrete composite (C3)’ is currently capturing the building sector as an ‘innovative’ and ‘sustainable’ alternative to steel reinforced concrete. In this work, its environmental compatibility was investigated. The focus of this research was the leaching behavior of C3, especially for the application as irrigated façade elements. Laboratory and outdoor exposure tests were run to determine and assess the heavy metal and trace element emissions. In the wake of this work, the validity of laboratory experiments and the transferability to outdoor behavior were investigated. The experimental results show very low releases of environmental harmful substances from carbon concrete composite. Most heavy metal concentrations were in the range of <0.1–8 µg/L, and higher concentrations (up to 32 µg/L) were found for barium, chromium, and copper. Vanadium and zinc concentrations were in the range of 0.1–60 µg/L, boron and nickel concentrations were clearly exceeding 100 µg/L. Most of the high concentrations were found to be a result of the rainfall background concentrations. The material C3 is therefore considered to be environmentally friendly. There is no general correlation between laboratory leaching data and outdoor emissions. The results depend on the examined substance and used method. The prediction and evaluation of the leaching of building elements submitted to rain is therefore challenging. This topic is debated in the second part of this publication.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaching of Carbon Reinforced Concrete—Part 1: Experimental Investigations

Weiler

Vollpracht

2020

Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The long-term stability of geotextiles is usually investigated with relation to mechanical stability, which must fulfill certain requirements after aging. Various methodologies are available (e.g., elevated temperatures or increase in oxygen pressure) to accelerate aging in the laboratory [ 4 ]. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, investigation of chemical oxidation reactions by infrared spectroscopy, and the residual content of stabilizers are typical parameters tested on aged samples [ 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Impact of Geosynthetics in Coastal Protection

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Geosynthetic materials are applied in measures for coastal protection. Weathering or any damage of constructions, as shown by a field study in Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia), could lead to the littering of the beach or the sea (marine littering) and the discharge of possibly harmful additives into the marine environment. The ageing behavior of a widely used geotextile made of polypropylene was studied by artificial accelerated ageing in water-filled autoclaves at temperatures of 30 to 80 °C and pressures of 10 to 50 bar. Tensile strength tests were used to evaluate the progress of ageing, concluding that temperature rather than pressure was the main factor influencing the ageing of geotextiles. Using a modified Arrhenius equation, it was possible to calculate the half-life for the loss of 50% of the strain, which corresponds to approximately 330 years. Dynamic surface leaching and ecotoxicological tests were performed to determine the possible release of contaminants. No harmful effects on the test organisms were observed.

show abstract

“…This method might not cover the worst case leaching conditions and therefore underestimates the actual emissions. Hecht and Schoknecht et al for example showed that not only the duration of water contact, but also the transport during drying phases determines the emissions [24,29], the DSLT does not achieve realistic exposure conditions [30]. Still it is desirable to find or develop a horizontal and therefore universally applicable and easily adaptable concept for the assessment of the environmental compatibility of irrigated construction components.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaching of Carbon Reinforced Concrete—Part 2: Discussion of Evaluation Concepts and Modelling

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Possible threats on the environment and human health by the leaching of new building materials and composites in contact to water should be prevented from the outset. It is therefore necessary to assess and ensure their environmental compatibility. For irrigated construction elements this is a challenging task, as there is no general correlation between known testing methods and outdoor emissions. A feasible assessment concept is needed for these conditions. In this work the German assessment method for permanently wet building materials is applied on different carbon reinforced concrete (C3) leaching data. Furthermore, emission prediction approaches of the Dutch building Materials Decree and the software COMLEAM are tested. The established methods are not yet suitable to determine the complex long term outdoor emissions of irrigated C3. In order to achieve realistic results in time saving testing methods and to define reasonable release limits, it is necessary to determine and verify the relevant influencing parameters on leaching through intermittent water contact. This research works out leaching patterns and correlations between inorganic substances. It is shown that the input parameters time of exposure, contact time, air temperature, air humidity, runoff and background concentration should be considered to predict the leaching processes from irrigated concrete phenomenologically.

show abstract

Using Environmental Simulations to Test the Release of Hazardous Substances from Polymer-Based Products: Are Realism and Pragmatism Mutually Exclusive Objectives?

Cited by 11 publications

References 75 publications

Leaching of Carbon Reinforced Concrete—Part 1: Experimental Investigations

Leaching of Carbon Reinforced Concrete—Part 1: Experimental Investigations

Environmental Impact of Geosynthetics in Coastal Protection

Leaching of Carbon Reinforced Concrete—Part 2: Discussion of Evaluation Concepts and Modelling

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About