Waste foundry sand and its leachate characteristics

Solid waste management has become one of the global environmental issues, as there is continuous increase in industrial by-products and waste materials. Due to lack of land filling space and its ever increasing cost, utilization of waste material and by-products has become an attractive alternative to disposal. Waste foundry sand (WFS) is one of such industrial by-product which could be used in various applications including construction materials such as Controlled Low-Strength Material (CLSM) and concrete. The beneficial use of such by-products in construction materials results in reducing the cost of construction materials’ ingredients and also helps in reducing disposal problem. The leachate obtained from such materials may contain hazardous compounds, which may possibly effect the environment. So, it is important to know the characteristics of leachate obtained from waste foundry sand.Understanding the leachate characteristics of WFS is essential in its disposal, environmental impact, and potential development for beneficial utilization towards solid waste management. This paper describes the physical, chemical properties of WFS, various leachate test methods, and research published on leachate characteristics of waste foundry sand.