ASTM Int'l Begins Work on Proposed Standard for Heavy Metals Analysis in Glass - ASTM WK15289
October 19, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
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ASTM International Committee F40 on Declarable Substances in Materials began work on ASTM WK15289 - Test Methods for Analysis of Heavy Metals in Glass Using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), which is designed to allow for an easier, more precise method of measuring heavy metals in recycled glass.
Changes in the composition of glass that recyclers receive led to the need for a simple, quick and accurate method of sorting out incoming waste glass that contains arsenic, lead and other heavy metals, according to ASTM International.
"[ASTM] WK15289 will allow glass recyclers to sort their incoming raw material stream to ensure that glass laden with lead, arsenic or other heavy metals can be properly identified as hazardous," said Christopher Davies, technical service representative, Potters Industries.
"It will ensure that products that could become hazardous to workers are not manufactured and it will also allow end-users to write specifications that limit the total heavy metal content of glass products, to ensure their workers' safety."
Davies also said that currently accepted methods of measuring total heavy metal content in glass involve the use of hydrofluoric (HF) acids in laboratory settings and are both expensive and time consuming.
According to Davies, the issue of identifying the composition of glass to be recycled took on greater importance in recent years due to the increased use of leaded glass for cathode ray tubes (CRTs) that entered the glass recycling stream. In addition, there was an increased use worldwide of glass that is manufactured in countries that allow the use of lead and arsenic to clarify the glass.
Products that can be manufactured with recycled glass include pavement marking and metal finishing glass beads, fiberglass insulation and glass for plastic fillers.
Davies said that the subcommittee is seeking participation in the further development of ASTM WK15289 from instrument manufacturers, laboratories that can help with precision and bias studies and glass manufacturers and recyclers.
ASTM WK15289 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee F40.01 on Test Methods.
Source: ASTM International.