Quantitative soil vapor as an alternative to traditional soil sampling for VOCs: Characterization and remediation

Conference · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Environmental Health; (United States)

OSTI ID:5898219

Preslo, L M; Estes, T ^[1]; Kraemer, M C

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1. ICF Kaiser Engineers, Inc., Rancho Cordova, CA (United States)

This paper will present the results of a Soil Vapor Demonstration Project that compared pairs of soils and adjacent soil vapor samples. This study was conducted at the Aerojet General Corporation site in Rancho Cordova, CA. The author will describe the use of soil vapor sampling as a better alternative to traditional soil sampling and analysis for volatile organic compounds, and as a tool to locate possible DNAPL. The paper will present how the Demonstration Project was performed to substantiate to the U.S. EPA and state agencies that soil vapor is a viable and quantitative sampling methodology. This approach utilized various soil properties including measured soil partitioning coefficients, to calculate VOC mass in soils based on soil vapor data and equilibrium conditions. The results showed that traditional soil samples underestimated the mass of VOCs present in over 90 percent of the soil/soil vapor pairs. The paper also will include observations of other physical parameters which were monitored during the program to assess the effect on the soil vapor concentrations. In addition, the flexibility, speed, and cost-effectiveness of sampling allowed for more comprehensive characterization with a higher level of confidence. The data collected demonstrated that the soil vapor technique provides a more comprehensive evaluation of VOC distribution in the vadose zone than traditional soil sampling.

• OSTI ID: 5898219
• Report Number(s): CONF-9310166--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Health; (United States) Journal Volume: 56:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
CALIFORNIA
CONTAMINATION
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
LAND POLLUTION
MATTER
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
REMEDIAL ACTION
SAMPLING
SOILS
USA
VOLATILE MATTER