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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Mobile EDXRF screening at lead-contaminated soil removal project

Conference ·
OSTI ID:488865
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Jacobs Engineering Group, Sacramento, CA (United States). Northern California Environmental Div.
  2. Onsite Environmental Labs. Inc., Tempe, AZ (United States)
Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry is used more and more to determine the elemental composition of soils, sludges, aqueous solutions, oils, and other waste materials quickly and inexpensively. This technology was implemented on a lead-contaminated soil removal action at a battery recycling facility in Sacramento, California, under the regulatory supervision by the State of California Department of Health Services, Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). A mobile EDXRF laboratory unit was on-site during the field activities to facilitate the complete delineation of the lead contamination during excavation, keeping the volume of soil to be disposed at the Class 1 landfill at a minimum. This approach resulted in significant cost savings of approximately $306,000 by reducing the volume of soil to be disposed from a first estimate of approximately 1,315 cubic yards to 666 cubic yards. Potential exposure risks to nearby residences, related to prolonged on-site storage and handling of the contaminated materials, were eliminated by the rapid results from EDXRF spectrometry.
OSTI ID:
488865
Report Number(s):
CONF-9610152--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English