Characterizing a VOC site through on-site analysis of soil gas

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:516782

Ardito, C P; Duval, T A; Reaber, D W ^[1]

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1. INTERA Inc., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

An alternative approach for characterization of sites contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been employed at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico (SNL/NM), in order to characterize a plume form a chemical waste landfill (CWL). The characterization approach is designed to maximize the use of soil gas analysis for definition of the nature and extent of contamination and for validation of the conceptual model of contaminant transport. Comparison of the soil gas data analyzed at an on-site laboratory with those data generated by an EPA-approved analytical laboratory indicates that soil gas data provide a much more representative picture of site conditions. To assist in the validation of the conceptual model of contaminant transport for the CWL, the authors employed an approach developed at SNL/NM that allows for assessment of nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) through equilibrium testing of the soil gas data. Ground water beneath the CWL, approximately 146 m below ground surface (BGS), has been impacted by low levels of VOCs. Laboratory data from soil samples collected through split-spoon sampling techniques revealed detectable contaminants to a maximum depth of approximately 6 m BGS. However, soil gas concentrations revealed a contaminant plume at concentrations in the range of 100 ppm, at depths greater than 60 m BGS. The authors demonstrate in this paper that soil gas data can provide a much more accurate picture of site conditions.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratory
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 516782
• Report Number(s): CONF-9404330--; ISBN 0-8031-2048-6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GAS ANALYSIS
GROUND WATER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SOILS
VOLATILE MATTER