Inaccurate determination of contaminant concentrations in soils can result in a higher cost of remediation

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:210193

Askari, M; Travis, C ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

This study evaluates the effectiveness of three extraction techniques for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in aged soils: purge-and-trap, methanol immersion and hot solvent extraction. Soil samples from three different sites were used. Purge-and-trap was performed using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 8260. For methanol immersion, purge-and-trap grade methanol was added to the soil sample. An aliquot of the methanol was removed and added to water, which was then subjected to purge-and-trap. The method of hot solvent extraction used ambient air passed through the sample to simulate vapor extraction and purging. Hot solvent extraction was the most effective method. Recovery from purge-and-trap ranged between 1.5 to 57.5% of hot solvent extraction. The extraction measurements all demonstrate the inefficiency of purge-and-trap as a reliable indicator of contaminant concentrations in aged soils. Results suggest that the EPA should review the use of the purge-and-trap method for measuring VOC concentrations in soils.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 210193
• Report Number(s): CONF-9509139--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCURACY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
MEASURING METHODS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SOILS
US EPA
WASTE MANAGEMENT