December 15, 1998
By Chris Reitmeyer, Brandon Podhola, and David Turriff PhD

* ABSTRACT

The En Core® sampler is a volumetric sampling device designed to store soil samples containing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). This study was performed to demonstrate that the sampler is capable of retaining low level VOCs, including gases, in a sandy soil and a clay fortified garden soil for up to seven days. Two concentration levels were used. Samplers were filled, spiked with a VOC standard which contained compounds of varying volatility and stored at 4oC for 2 and 7 days.

* EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

For the first experiment, soil consisting of coarse sand, farm topsoil, and clay was mixed at En Chem, Inc. Sieve analysis was performed and the soil was >80% sand. Actual soil grain percentages are in the Results section. Thirty milliliters of deionized water were added to 570 grams of the soil mixture resulting in a theoretical value of 5% moisture for the high level study. Fifty-four milliliters of deionized water were added to 546 grams of the soil mixture resulting in a theoretical value of 9% moisture for the low level.

For the second experiment, a soil was prepared consisting of 900 grams of garden soil and 225 of grams of the clay. Sieve analysis was performed, actual soil grain percentages are in the Results section. Soil was also submitted for bioenumeration analysis. No deionized water was added as there was moisture present from the garden soil.