Evaluation of a rapid headspace analysis method for analysis of volatile constituents in soils and sediments

Technical Report · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10129295· OSTI ID:10129295

Sims, W R; Looney, B B; Eddy, C A

Contamination of the subsurface by volatile organic solvents is a common and significant environmental problem. A critical component of developing an accurate assessment of a site contaminated by these solvents is the acquisition of closely spaced, high quality contaminant concentration data. Many volatile organics are relatively mobile in the subsurface, requiring characterization of both horizontal and vertical contaminant migration. The volatile nature of these analyses, combined with the cost and effort typically required to perform quantitative analysis, has often compromised the number of quality of analyses used in characterization studies. A headspace analysis method was developed by Savannah River Laboratory to facilitate accurate and rapid delineation of the vertical and horizontal extent of volatile organic contamination in the subsurface. The method was designed to reduce sample handling, laboratory preparation, and analytical complexity. Detection and delineation of volatile organic solvent contamination at a hazardous waste site can be a complex problem. The number of quality of analyses used in characterization studies has often been compromised by the difficulties and costs associated with quantitative analysis of these volatile analytes. A headspace analysis method was developed by the Westinghouse Savannah River Laboratory to facilitate the accurate and rapid delineation of the vertical and horizontal extent of volatile organic contamination in the subsurface, and to reduce the sample handling, laboratory preparation, and analytical complexity generally associated with the use of several United States Environmental Protection Agency Analysis Methods.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 10129295
• Report Number(s): WSRC-MS--91-096; CONF-910981--59; ON: DE92008842
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220
540250
CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
COMPILED DATA
CONTAMINATION
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
PENTANE
QUANTITY RATIO
SAMPLING
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SEDIMENTS
SEPARATION PROCEDURES
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES
SOILS
STORAGE FACILITIES
TESTING
VOLATILE MATTER