Evaluation of elutriate test parameters for an organic hydrophobic pollutant, Kepone

Abstract

The following elutriate test parameters were evaluated using sediment and water from the James River estuary to determine their effects on test results: sediment concentration (20, 5, 2·5 and 1%), mixing time (120, 30 and 5 min) and Kepone concentration in/on the sediment (0·04 and 0·02 mg kg⁻¹). A factorial analysis of variance indicates that Kepone concentration on sediment is the only factor within the above parametric ranges controlling concentrations in the elutriate water. The results agree with analyses of samples taken during a dredging operation near the site of sediment collection for the elutriate tests.

The Kepone elutriate results indicate that a relatively low sediment concentration (1%) is adequate to obtain meaningful elutriate results. This suggests that the standard elutriate test (Environmental Protection Agency, 1973) may prescribe an excessive amount of sediment (20%) which may impart an unnecessary burden on the analyst.