CONTENTS
Fiber Optic/Cone
Penetrometer System
Used for Heavy Metal
Detection page 1
ETV Verifications
Conducted on Analytical
Technologies for PCBs page 2
Flux Measurement Used
to Characterize Sediment
Contamination Mobility page 3
Brownfields Technology
Support Center Now
Open
page 4
New Web Site Developed
to Exchange Information
on Sensor Technologies page4
The Applied Technologies
Newsletter for Superfund
Removals & Remedial
Actions & RCRA Corrective
Action
ABOUT THIS ISSUE
This issue highlights innovative
technologies and information
resources for site
characterization involving
contaminated soil and
sediments.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5102G)
EPA 542-N-00-007
November 2000
Issue No. 39
Fiber Optic/Cone
Penetrometer System
Used for Heavy Metal
Detection
by Karen Cohen, U.S. Department
of Energy/National Energy
Technology Laboratory, and Steven
Saggese, Ph.D., Science and
Engineering Associates, Inc.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
National Energy Technology Laboratory
(NETL) has developed an integrated laser-
induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
and cone penetrometer technology (CPT)
system to analyze the heavy-metals
content of subsurface soils. A recent
demonstration to detect chromium at
DOE's Chemical Waste Landfill at Sandia
National Labs (SNL) near Albuquerque,
NM, showed that this in situ LffiS/CPT
system successfully produced analytical
results within 24 hours. In addition to
allowing for rapid, in situ analysis, the
LIBS/CPT system offers the advantages of
providing continuous measurements,
minimal site intrusion and waste genera-
tion, and reduced field worker exposure to
hazardous samples.
The CPT-deployed, LffiS-based system
(Figure 1) utilizes a high energy laser pulse
that is delivered into soil by a Nd:YAG
(neodyniunryttrium aluminum garnet)
laser operating at 1.06 um. By absorbing
laser energy, the soil heats rapidly to an
electronically excited plasma. When the
excitation energy is removed, excited
electrons drop to lower energy levels and
emit characteristic photons. The plasma
emission spectrum from the sample is
observed through an optical fiber.
Elemental analysis then is conducted with
an on-site computer by observing the
wavelength and intensities of the emission
lines, which vary with the type and
amount of material present within the
plasma.
During the three-day SNL field test, six
penetrations were conducted to a depth of
15 feet. The resulting data were used to
generate detailed graphics depicting the
chromium concentration as a function of
depth, with a range of chromium concen-
trations from 30 parts per million
(background) to 1,200 parts per million.
These results correlated highly with data
collected from past soil borings installed
in the test location.
Costs for deploying the LIBS/CPT system
at SNL were estimated to total $4,116 per
30 feet of soil penetration, including
expenses for the LffiS system, set-up, and
operation; field mobilization and
[continued on page 2]
Figure 1. Subsurface Heavy Metal
Detection System
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with Soy/Canola Ink on paper that
contains at least 50% recycled fiber
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[continued from page 1]
demobilization; CPT rig equipment and
labor; and equipment calibration. This
represents a 31 percent cost savings when
compared to conventional site
characterization methods involving
subsurface drilling, collection of core
samples, and off-site laboratory analysis.
The LIBS system also can be deployed in a
stand-alone system, without the CPT but
with a back-pack or cart-mounted system,
to analyze surficial soil samples or grab
samples. Full-scale application of the
stand-alone method was conducted
successfully for beryllium detection at a
former military site nearLuckey, OH. For
more information, contact Karen Cohen
(NETL) at 412-386-6667 or cohen@
netl.doe.gov, or Dr. Steven Saggese
(Science and Engineering Associates, Inc.)
at 505-346-9862 or e-mail sjsaggese@
seabase.com.
EYV Verifications
Conducted on
Analytical
technologies for PCBs
by Amy Dindal, U.S. Department of
Energy/Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, and Eric Koglin, U.S.
EPA/National Exposure Research
Laboratory
Performance verifications for eight field
analytical techniques capable of detecting
and quantifying polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) in soils and solvent extracts have
been conducted since 1997 under the U.S.
EPA's Environmental Technology Verifica-
tion (ETV) Program. In 2000, the
performance of one technology (L2000DX
Analyzer) was verified for its ability to
detect PCBs in transformer oil. As part of
the ETV's Site Characterization and
Monitoring Technologies Pilot Program,
these verification tests were designed to
obtain technology performance information
by using environmental and quality control
samples. The data generated by the field
techniques were compared to the data
produced by a conventional laboratory
using standard methods. Final results for
seven of these technology verifications
now are available on the web.
Six of the PCB performance verifications
involved immunoassay test kits:
RaPID Assay System (vendor:
Strategic Diagnostics, Inc. [SDI])
• D TECH PCB Test Kit (SDI)
• EnviroGard PCB Test Kit (SDI)
PCB Immunoassay Kit (Hach
Company)
PCB in Soil Tube Assay
(EnviroLogix, Inc.), and
DELFIA PCB Assay (Hybrizy me).
Other technologies for which verification
reports are complete include the 4100
Vapor Detector (Electronic Sensor Technol-
ogy), which is a gas chromatograph with a
surface acoustic wave detector, and the
L2000 PCB/Chloride Analyzer (Dexsil
Corporation), an ion-specific electrode
instrument. Performance results for the
L2000DX Analyzer, an updated instrument
from the one verified in 1997, and the
DELFIA PCB Assay will be available in
early 2001.
Each technology's
performance was
evaluated under two
distinct environmen-
tal conditions: (1) a
controlled chamber
with constant
temperature and
relative humidity, and
(2) outdoors, under
naturally variable
temperature and
relative humidity.
PCB concentrations
ranged from 0 to 700
parts per million
(ppm) in soil samples
and 0 to 100 ug/mL in extract (simulated
wipe) samples. Vendors used their tech-
nologies to analyze 116 samples in each of
the two test conditions, which involved a
total of 72 performance evaluation soil, 136
environmental soil, and 24 extract (simu-
lated wipe) samples. For the PCB-in-oil
verification analyses, a total of 152
samples, ranging in PCB concentration
from 0 to 300 ppm, were analyzed.
Performance of the PCB technologies was
judged based on commonly used measures
of method performance: precision,
accuracy, comparability, detection limits
(when appropriate), sample throughput rate,
false positive rate, and false negative rate.
The range of performance for selected
factors for quantitative PCB technologies is
presented in Figure 2. Depending on the
technology, sample throughput ranged from
5 to 18 samples per hour.
Verification reports containing detailed
information on these and other performance
factors, such as cost and regulatory applica-
bility, are available on-line from Oak Ridge
National Laboratory at www.ornl.gov/etv
and on the ETV web site at www.epa.gov/
etv. Additional information may be
obtained from Amy Dindal (ORNL) at 865-
574-4863 or e-mail dindalab@ornl.gov, or
Eric Koglin (National Exposure Research
Laboratory) at 702-798-2432 or e-mail
koglin.eric@epa.gov.
Figure *
Performance
Factor
Accuracy
Precision
Comparability
?. Performance Rar
Metric
average % recovery
average % relative
standard deviation
coefficient of
determination
ge for PCB Analyzers
Range of Performance*
Soil
103 - 208%
12 - 25%
0.754 - 0.854
Extract
101 - 161%
12 - 14%
0.954 - 0.977
* Excludes performance of one outlier technology
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Flux Measurement
Used to Characterize
Sediment
Contamination
nobility
by Thomas W. Hampton, Space
and Naval Warfare Systems Center,
San Diego
Through its Environmental Sciences
Division, the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval
Warfare Systems Center, SanDiego, (SSC
SD) has developed a unique instrument for
obtaining in situ, direct measurement of
contaminant fluxes from marine sediments.
The Benthic Flux Sampling Device 2
(BFSD2), is a flux chamber that isolates a
volume of seawater over sediments to
quantify contaminant flux, thereby
allowing for assessment of contaminant
mobility across a sediment-water interface.
BFSD2 was used to characterize metal
contaminants in sediments at the Naval
Station San Diego (Paleta Creek site) and
Alameda Naval Air Station (Seaplane
Lagoon site) in California, as well as the
Pearl Harbor Naval Complex (Bishop Point
and Middle Loch sites) in Hawaii. Results
showed that BFSD2 provided a reliable
means for evaluating the mobility, source
loading to water column, and potential
bioavailability of in-place sediment
contamination.
The commercially-available BFSD2 is
adapted from benthic flux chamber
technology developed in oceanography for
studying the cycles of major elements and
nutrients on the seafloor. A flux out of or
into the sediment is measured by isolating a
volume of water above the sediment,
drawing off samples from the volume over
time, and analyzing the samples for
increase or decrease in toxicant concentra-
tion. Increasing concentrations indicate
that the toxicant is fluxing out of the
sediment, while decreasing concentrations
indicate that the toxicant is fluxing into the
sediment.
BFSD2 instrumentation consists of a
pyramid-shaped tubular frame, an open-
bottomed chamber, and associated
sampling and control equipment (Figure 3).
At the top of the frame is an acoustically
released buoy for instrumentation recovery.
At the bottom of the frame are the open-
bottomed chamber and associated sampling
gear, flow-through sensors, data acquisition
and control unit, video camera system,
power supply, and oxygen supply system.
As a sample collection technology, the
BFSD2 uses established methods, standard
operating procedures, laboratory quality
assurance and control procedures, and data
validation processes. Internal quality
assurance checks typically include silica
flux, oxygen and pH stability, and statisti-
cal tests. Advantages of the BFSD include
the capability to:
• Deploy from a small surface craft
using light duty handling
equipment;
• Operate autonomously in the marine
environment at depths to 50 meters
and bottom currents to 2 knots;
Figure 3. Benthic Flux Sampling Device
Provide remote, real-time video
imaging of the bottom site prior to
autonomous operations;
Supply programmable,
microprocessor-controlled
autonomous operation for up to 96
hours;
Secure placement (bottom landing)
with minimal disturbance of bottom
sediments;
Isolate and maintain homogenous
conditions in approximately 30-liter
volumes of bottom water, including
oxygen content within one milliliter
per liter of initial conditions;
Collect up to twelve 250-milliliter in
w'/M-filtered water samples from the
chamber at selected intervals; and
Measure and store sample chamber
depth, dissolved oxygen, pH,
conductivity/salinity, and
temperature data continuously.
The BFSD2 provides a unique means of
evaluating the significance of in-place
sediment contamination. Presently, there is
no other viable method for direct quantifi-
cation of sediments as sources. At
! sites where it can be demonstrated
that remobilization of contami-
nants is limited, significant cost
savings may be achieved through
reduction of cleanup costs.
Estimated disposal costs for
contaminated sediment range from
$100 to $1000 per cubic yard.
SSC SD researchers anticipate
near-future extension of this
technology to quantify mobility
of organic contaminants such as
polyaromatic hydrocarbons,
polychlorinated biphenyls, and
pesticides in marine sediments.
For additional information,
contact Tom Hampton (SSC SD) at
619-553-1172 or e-mail
thampton@spawar.navy.mil, or Dr.
Bart Chadwick (SSC SD) at 619-
553-5333 or e-mail chadwick@
spawar.navy.mil.
-------
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Brownfields
Technology Support
Center Now Open
The U.S. EPA's Technology Innovation
Office has opened a technical support
center to assist brownfields decision-makers
in understanding the full range of available
technologies and in making informed
technology decisions. Through this center,
combined resources from the Office of
Research and Development's National Risk
Management Research Laboratories and
the National Exposure Research Laboratory
provide support to localities, states, and
federal brownfields staff. The Center can
help localities:
Pursue strategies for streamlining
assessment and clean-up
Identify and understand information
on complex technology options
Understand contractor capabilities
and recommendations
Explain complex technologies to
communities, and
Plan technology demonstrations.
Requests for assistance may be submitted
on-line atwww.brownfieldstsc.org, or
through the Brownfields Technology
Center Hotline at 877-838-7220.
New Web Site
Developed to Exchange
Information on Sensor
technologies
The Sensor Technology Information
Exchange (SenTIX) is available to improve
communication among sensor developers,
vendors, and users inside and outside of
the environmental arena. Developed by
WPI (a not-for-profit corporation
affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University) through a
cooperative agreement with the U.S.
EPA, SenTIX serves as a diverse forum
for exchanging information on sensor
technologies and needs.
The SenTIX database contains functions
that play match-maker between users
looking for sensor technologies to meet
specific needs, and developers having
commercially-available (or potential)
sensors that could meet those needs.
SenTIX also provides a vehicle for
discussions on technology needs and
developments, and for posting informa-
tion on upcoming events and news
topics. SenTIX is available at
www.sentix.org. To obtain additional
information, contact Larry Keith (WPI)
at Larry_Keith@wpi.org or 678-344-
0001.
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