The Influence of PAH Concentration and Distribution on Real-Time In-Situ Measurements of Petroleum Products in Soils Using Laser Induced Fluorescence

Abstract

Real-time laser induced fluorescence (LIF) in situ measurements of soil samples provide a reliable and cost-effective screening tool for hydrocarbon site assessments. The site characterization and analysis penetrometer system (SCAPS), is a truck-mounted cone penetrometer probe modified with a sapphire window and connected to a laser by fiber optics. The pulsed nitrogen laser 337-nm excitation source induced fluorescence in polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are present in petroleum products. The fluorescence response of these compounds is measured with a fluorometer. The SCAPS can provide continuous hydrocarbon screening measurements to soil depths greater than 100 feet. Discrete soil samples collected from SCAPS boreholes were extracted and analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID), and 16 parent and over 100 alkyl substituted PAH compounds by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC/MS). This method provides a basis for evaluating the relationship between TFH and PAH concentrations in the soil samples and laser induced fluorescence measurements from the soil borings.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA350526

Entities

People

  • Carole Peven
  • David Knowles
  • Gregory S. Douglas
  • Steven H. Lieberman
  • William C. Mcginnis

Organizations

  • Arthur D. Little

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Aromatic Polycyclic Hydrocarbons
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Cyclic Hydrocarbons
  • Detection
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Fluorescence
  • Fuel Oils
  • Gas Chromatography
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Laser Induced Fluorescence
  • Lasers
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Measurement
  • Petroleum
  • Waste Management

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Environmental Remediation and Restoration.
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers