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FIELD MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY FOR MERCURY IN SOIL AND SEDIMENT METOREX'S X-MET 2000 X-RAY FLUORESENCE TECHNOLOGY
Citation:
Billets, S N., J. Nicklas, AND J. Evans. FIELD MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY FOR MERCURY IN SOIL AND SEDIMENT METOREX'S X-MET 2000 X-RAY FLUORESENCE TECHNOLOGY. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/6009/R-03/149 (NTIS PB2005-100263), 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this program is to promote the acceptance and use of innovative field technologies by providing well-documented performance and cost data obtained from field demonstrations.
Description:
Metorex's X-MET 2000 X-ray fluorescence analyzer was demonstrated under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation Program in May 2003, at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The purpose of the Demonstration was to collect reliable performance and cost data for the X-MET 2000 and four other field measurement devices for mercury in soil and sediment. The key objectives of the Demonstration were: 1) determine sensitivity of each instrument with respect to a vendor-generated method detection limit (MDL) and practical quantitation limit (POL); 2) determine analytical accuracy associated with vendor field measurements using field samples and standard reference materials; 3) evaluate the precision of vendor field measurements; 4) measure time required to perform mercury measurements; and 5) estimate costs associated with mercury measurements for capital, labor, supplies, and investigation-derived wastes. The Demonstration involved analysis of standard reference materials (SRMs), field samples collected from four sites, and spiked field samples for mercury .The performance results for a given field measurement device were compared to those for an off-site laboratory reference method, "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste" (SW-846) Method 74718.
All primary objectives were successfully evaluated. The X-MET 2000 was found to have an MDL of between 16.5 and 26.9 mg/kg and a POL of approximately 64 mg/kg. The instrument was found to be very precise (Metorex had an average relative standard deviation on sample replicates of 9.34% compared to the referee laboratory's 20.6%), but have poor accuracy (22 of 32 samples had a percent difference of greater than 50%). During the Demonstration, Metorex required 18 hours (36 man hours) for analysis of 197 samples. The measurement costs were estimated to be $6,556 for Metorex's X-MET 2000 rental option or $33.28 per sample; $16.02 per sample excluding capital costs.
The X-MET 2000 exhibited good ease of use and durability, as well as no major health and safety concerns. The analyzer is lightweight and extremely portable. Additionally, while the device is available for purchase, the lead time of 30 days may limit its application to some sites where rapid response is required. Metorex maintains two or three units for rental, but it's availability is subject to demand. The Demonstration findings collectively indicated that the X-MET 2000 is a rapid and portable field measurement device for mercury in soil.