How do you collect soil gas samples?

Active soil-gas collection methods (as opposed to passive soil-gas sampling) involve ÒpullingÓ a vapor sample from a temporary or permanent probe inserted in the soil into a collection or analytical device. Samples are then transported to a laboratory, or in some cases they are analyzed on site.

What is sub slab sampling?

Sub-slab Vapor Sampling In order to evaluate whether vapors have reached a building, samples may be collected from beneath the home/building. foundation. These are called sub-slab samples.

What is soil gas sampling?

Soil gas samples should be collected in areas above where volatile chemical contamination in the soil or groundwater has been identified. Soil gas samples must be collected from a depth at least three feet below the ground surface or building foundation, but above the saturated zone.

What is passive soil gas sampling?

The passive soil gas sampling technique is a near-surface screening method that can identify a large range of chlorinated and aromatic vapors (such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and benzene, respectively) migrating to the surface from the soil or groundwater.

How do summa canisters work?

A Summa canister is a stainless steel container that has had the internal surfaces specially passivated using a “Summa” process. This process combines an electropolishing step with a chemical deactivation step to produce a surface that is nearly chemically inert.

What is soil vapor survey?

Soil-gas surveys are defined as the collection, analysis, and interpretation of soil-gas data. Active soil-gas surveys can be completed in as little as one day and are most commonly used for sites with volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

How do you collect ambient air samples?

Whole air samples are commonly collected in Tedlar bags and Summa canisters either by using a pump, or passively by relying on the evacuated canister. The samples are then sealed and delivered to the lab for testing.

What is a summa process?

Our Summa Processing is an advanced form electropolishing similar to, but the reverse of, electroplating. The electropolishing process smoothes and streamlines the microscopic surface of a metal object. Stainless steel contains metallic and non-metallic inclusions, which are unavoidably included during manufacture.

Which equipment is used for ambient air sampling?

Ambient air or gas streams (including stack emissions and fugitive emissions) are sampled to determine the presence of, and concentrations of, gaseous pollutants by use of the following equipment and mechanisms: Vacuum pumps, hand operated or automatic. Vacuum release of an evacuated collection container.

What are the major types of ambient air pollutants?

EPA has established national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for six of the most common air pollutants— carbon monoxide, lead, ground-level ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide—known as “criteria” air pollutants (or simply “criteria pollutants”).

How do Summa canisters work?

A summa canister is a stainless steel electropolished (or “summa” polished) passivated vessel used to collect a whole air sample. To collect a sample, the summa canister valve is opened and the canister is left in a designated area for a period of time to allow the surrounding air to fill the canister and achieve a representative sample.

What is soil vapor sampling?

The goal of soil gas sampling is to collect a sample of the vapor that resides in the interstitial soil pores near a source of contamination and/or near a potential receptor structure. To sample soil gas, a temporary or permanent soil vapor probe is installed.

What is a soil vapor probe?

Soil Vapor Probes. The Soil Gas Vapor Probe is a reusable stainless steel device for temporarily extracting vapor from the soil to a depth of about 4 feet. It is useful for checking beneath the soil surface when monitoring hydrocarbon spills, tank and pipe leakage, landfills, and hazardous waste sites.

What is soil vapor testing?

Soil Vapor Testing. Soil vapor or soil gas testing is a cost effective method of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) detection.