Concentration Stability of Four Volatile Organic Compounds in Soil Subsamples
Abstract
This study assesses the short-term (14- to 20-day) concentration stability of benzene, toluene, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene and trichloroethylene in soil matrices, in the absence of volatilization losses. Previously, holding time studies failed to eliminate volatilization as a variable, making them difficult to interpret. Here, vapor-fortified soil subsamples, sealed in glass ampoules for 16 days, experienced appreciable reductions in benzene, presumably attributable only to biodegradation. Treated soil subsamples, on the other hand, prepared without vapor losses for either aqueous extraction headspace or purge- and-trap analyses, showed appreciable reductions in toluene and lost all the benzene over a 14-day holding period at 4 deg C. These findings suggest that chemical preservatives are necessary to maintain volatile organic compound concentrations in soil when more than a couple of days pass between collection and analysis. Biodegradation, Soil samples, Holding time, Volatile-organic compounds.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA280124
Entities
People
- Alan D. Hewitt
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory