Recent Advances in Remediation Strategies and Technologies for the Cleanup of Hazardous Waste Sites

Accepted for presentation in the following SYMPOSIUM at #ACSPhilly 2016:  Recent Advances in Remediation Strategies and Technologies  for the Cleanup of Hazardous Waste Sites

ABSTRACT SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM AREA NAME: ENVR

PRESENTATION TYPE: Oral Only

TITLE: Headspace GC/PID for on-site screening of soil  and water at hazardous waste sites

AUTHORS (FIRST NAME, LAST NAME): John N. Driscoll1, Jennifer L. Maclachlan2

INSTITUTIONS (ALL): 1. PID Analyzers, LLC, Centerville, MA, United States. 2. PID Analyzers, LLC, Sandwich, MA, United States.

ABSTRACT BODY:  Abstract: Headspace screening of VOC’s in soil and water samples in the laboratories is a common practice to prevent high level samples from contaminating the GC/MS. The screening of soil and water samples in the field using a headspace photoionization detection (PID), as a Level I field screening tool, has been a common practice that has been in use for more than 25 years. A battery operated portable gas chromatograph (GC) offers Level II field analysis with the ability to detemine  the exact species and concentrations of the contaminants offering real-time laboratory quality  data in the field. The real advantage to using both Level I and Level II sreening methods is to  speed up the processing of samples once the contaminants have been identified and  reduce the number of samples sent to the laboratory.  Low ppb levels of detection include most contaminants  including TCE and PCE.  A portable GC can run for 6-8 hours on the batteries  and can accommodate 30M capillary columns that are easily interchangeable. The general  purpose column is a 30M x 0.53 mm x 3 micron film methyl silicone column that separated  based on boiling point. The thick film column will also separate gases as well as volatile liquids.  This is an ideal tool to help clean up hazardous waste sites more rapidly.