Impact/Purpose:

Objective was to develop a metholology using Sensidyne indicator tubes for hexane that can be used to detect volatile organic compounds (gasoline compounds) in soil and water. The product will be used by the Undergound Storage Tank (UST), Leaking UST, RCRA, and Superfund Programs at EPA. The methodolgy will be used in the field by Region 6 states, Tribes in Oklahoma, and EPA field inspectors.

Description:

Present field testing for VOCs in soil and water involves sending samples to distant laboratories, waiting weeks for results, at a cost of 30 - 50 $ per sample. The goal of this science activity was to develop and test in the laboratory a methodology to detect VOCs in soil and water on site (UST sites), have immediate results, detect contaminants at a 50 - 1000 ppm range, and cost less than 5$ per sample. A head space technique was developed using Sensidyne detector tubes for hexane. Researchers at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX prepared soil samples spiked with gasoline, tested several types of soil, documented the experimental parameters, reported the best techniques for semi-quantitative determinatio of VOCs in soil.

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