Application of a New Technique for the Detection and Analysis of Low Concentrations of Contaminants in Soil

Résumé du livre

A direct method for trapping and detecting volatile organic compounds emanating from contaminated ground water or soil has been successfully demonstrated. The method consists of a static trapping device which is placed just below the soil surface and left for seven to thirty days to insure time for integrated collection of the soil gas. Analysis of the trapped compounds is performed by Curie-point desorption mass spectrometry. Results from two studies conducted in separate Denver industrial complexes showed that the technique is a powerful tool for delineating surface contaminations such as trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), toluene, and hydrocarbons. The studies also showed the flux data are useful for inferring the extent and direction of contamination where limited hydrological data are available.