Citation:

Battelle. AN ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION (ETV) OF FIVE PORTABLE DETECTORS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ARSENIC IN WATER: INDUSTRIAL TEST SYSTEMS QUICK LOW RANGE TEST KIT, QUICK LOW RANGE TEST KIT II, QUICK II TEST KIT, QUICK ULTRA LOW TEST KIT, AND THE MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL PDV 6000 PORTABLE ANALYZER.

Impact/Purpose:

The overall objective of the ETV Program is to accelerate the entrance of new environmental technologies into the domestic and international marketplace by identifying the environmental performance characteristics of commercial-ready technology through the evaluation of objective and quality assured data. This provides the potential purchasers and permitters with an independent and credible assessment of what they are buying and/or permitting. The AMS Center has received funding to performance verify monitoring technologies relevant for homeland security.

Description:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program to facilitate the deployment of innovative or improved environmental technologies through performance verification and dissemination of information. The goal of the ETV Program is to further environmental protection by substantially accelerating the acceptance and use of innovative and cost-effective technologies. ETV seeks to achieve this goal by providing high quality, peer-reviewed data on technology performance to those involved in the design, distribution, financing, permitting, purchase, and use of environmental technologies. These individual verification reports and statements describe the test results for the Industrial Test Systems: QuickTM Low Range Test Kit, QuickTM Low Range Test Kit II, QuickTM II Test Kit, and the QuickTM Ultra Low Test Kit. These four test kits follow a colorimetric procedure using a color chart for concentration determinations. When using the QuickTM units for arsenic detection the results for two additional detection devices, the QuickTM Arsenic Scan and Compu-Scan, were also reported. In addition, the Monitoring Technologies International PDV 6000 Portable Analyzer was also tested. This technology follows an anodic stripping voltammetry principal of analysis. The PDV 6000 is designed for the on-site analysis of heavy metals. For this test, using VAS software, the analyzer was used to measure arsenic only.

The verification test described in these reports, was based on evaluating the performance of five arsenic detection units under realistic operating conditions. The units are inexpensive, portable, rapid devices designed for on-site analysis of arsenic in water. All these detection units were verified in terms of their performance on the following parameters: accuracy, precision, linearity, method detection limit (MDL), matrix interference effects, operator bias, inter-unit reproducibility, and rate of false positives/false negatives. All preparation and analyses were performed according to the manufacturer's recommended procedures. Results from these units were compared to those from the reference method to assess accuracy, linearity, and detection limit. Multiple aliquots of performance test samples and environmental samples were analyzed to assess precision. Matrix interference effects were assessed by challenging the detection units with performance test samples of known arsenic concentrations containing both low-level and high-level interferences. Identical sets of samples were analyzed independently by two separate operators (a technical and a nontechnical Battelle staff member) to evaluate operator bias. All samples were analyzed using two detection units to evaluate inter-unit reproducibility. False positives and negatives were evaluated relative to the 10-ppb maximum contaminant level for arsenic in drinking water. In addition to the analytical results, the time required for sample analysis and operator observations concerning the use of the detection units (e.g., frequency of calibration, ease of use, maintenance) were recorded. Three types of samples were used in the verification test: quality control (QC) samples, performance test (PT) samples, and environmental water samples. The QC and PT samples were prepared from National Institute of Standards and Technology traceable purchased standards. The environmental water samples were collected from various drinking water and surface water sources.

ETV verifications are based on an evaluation of technology performance under specific, predetermined criteria and the appropriate quality assurance procedures. The EPA and Battelle make no expressed or implied warranties as to the performance of the technology and do not certify that a technology will always operate as verified. The end user is solely responsible for complying with any and all applicable federal, state, and local requirements. Mention of commercial products does not imply endorsement.

Record Details: