A new field test kit for the rapid determination of diesel fuel in soil

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

OSTI ID:276355

Schabron, J F; Niss, N D; Hart, B K; Hart, J K ^[1]

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1. Western Research Inst., Laramie, WY (United States)

A new test kit is available for evaluating diesel and other fuel contamination in soils. While the Freon extraction/infrared method estimates fuel concentration by measuring aliphatic C-H stretch, approaches designed to replace this such as the immunoassay method and the method involving a Fridel-Crafts alkylation reaction measure the aromatic component of fuel mixtures. Both of these methods measure aromatic content indirectly with visible color development. The new method measures the aromatic components directly with a 254 nm portable field photometer. The method is very simple since it does not involve complicated color development steps, and does not require the use of highly toxic reagents. It involves a 3-minute extraction of soil with a 10:1 ratio of isopropyl alcohol. Prior to extraction, the soil is treated with an agent to minimize the extraction of humic materials which can interfere. The extract solution is passed through a syringe filter and the absorbance is read at 254 nm. The fuel concentration is calculated based on average relative response factors. Alternatively, the actual contaminant fuel can be used as a standard if it is known. The quantitation limit is about 75 mg/kg diesel in soil. The method has been tested with a variety of soils and fuel types.

• DOE Contract Number: FC21-93MC30127
• OSTI ID: 276355
• Report Number(s): CONF-950209--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
DIESEL FUELS
FIELD TESTS
MEASURING METHODS
MONITORING
OIL SPILLS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOMETERS
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT