Leaching initial leachability

Although still in its beginning, simple leaching tests are now employed by agencies for routine use to monitor mobile" or acid-soluble parts of metals, e.g. in solid residues, in addition to total concentrations (see Hirner, Chap. 3 and Forstner, Chap. 11). In a first attempt, the chemical extraction of solid waste material with distilled water or weak acids (i.e. 0.1 HCl) has become a standard procedure when assessing the initial leachability of metals in hazardous waste materials (cf German DIN 38414-S4 or US-EPA TCLP-leaching test see also Forstner 1993). 

All biomaterials must meet certain criteria and regulatory requirements. First of all biomaterials should be readily purified, fabricated and sterilised easily by conventional methods. Materials should be free from leachable impurities, such as initiators, stabilisers, emulsifiers, unreacted monomers or oligomers, and other additives (e.g., plasticisers, fragments of fillers, dyes) may leach out during application of polymeric biomaterials and may cause important side-effects. 

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