INVESTIGATING THE PREFERENTIAL DISSOLUTION OF LEAD FROM SOLDER PARTICULATES

During a building corrosion control study, bottles containing acid-pre served water samples with high levels of lead often had particulate ma terial on the bottom. Scanning electron microscope analysis of the par ticles showed the presence of tin and the absence of lead, indicating the probable source of lead to be lead-tin solder. A leaching study wa s done to investigate the effectiveness of the standard 0.15 percent n itric acid preservation procedure for dissolving lead corrosion by-pro ducts. Results indicate that the technique was adequate for dissolving lead from lead-tin solder particles but not for tin.