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Potential toxicity and aerobic biodegradability of sodium silicate chemical grout leachate
Author(s) -
Malone J. Michael,
St. John Todd W.,
Barlaz Morton A.,
Borden Roy H.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620160308
Subject(s) - leachate , biodegradation , grout , environmental chemistry , daphnia magna , sodium silicate , chemistry , acute toxicity , sodium , toxicity , geology , organic chemistry , geotechnical engineering , materials science , metallurgy
Large quantities of organic reagents are used in sodium silicate grouts for the stabilization of granular soils prior to construction projects. However, the fate and effects of these reagents in the subsurface are unknown. In this study, leachate from sodium silicate grouted soil specimens was tested for acute toxicity using Daphnia magna and Vibrio fisheri (Microtox®) assays. Additionally, a soil biometer test was used to measure the aerobic biodegradability of the grout leachate. Median lethal concentrations (LC50s) ranged from 1,220 to 3,260 mg/L as total organic carbon (TOC) for the D. magna test and from 4,500 to 22,180 mg/L as TOC for the Microtox test. More than 80% of the organics contained in the grout leachate were biologically converted to carbon dioxide in less than 30 d. The grout was found to be far less toxic than other common organic chemicals such as phenol.