Suitability of XRF-methods on on-site testing of waste materials (NT TR 545)

Abstract

  In the EU landfill directive the assessment of waste suitability on disposal is divided into three levels according to intended use. The lowest level, called on-site verification usually takes place on the landfill site and is mainly for control purposes to confirm that the waste quality meets characteristics defined in the two upper acceptability assessment phases. On-site verification requires reliable check methods to confirm the waste characteristics. The aim of this work was to assess the suitability of two field portable X-ray fluorescence (FPXRF) analysers for on site verification of specific inorganic waste. In addition the sampling and sample treatment procedures applicable for rapid analysis of different waste fractions were studied. A comparative study of concurrent analysis method was also completed. This document is the final report of the project entitled: “Tillämpbarheten av XRF-metoder i onsite testning av avfall” financed by the NORDTEST. The project was initiated in January 2002 and ended in December 2002. Besides VTT from Finland participated SINTEF from Norway in the project.