Accelerated Sampling and Analysis for Dioxins/Furans
Whitworth, Clarence; Dan Battleson; John Montgomery; Roland Rees; Ken
Reick, MSE Technology Applications, Inc.
12th Annual Technical
Information Exchange (TIE) Workshop, 14-16 November 2000, Augusta, Georgia
Existing methods for the determination of dioxins/furans in
offgas, air, soil, and water matrices generally involve complex and
time-consuming sampling, extraction, and analysis procedures, with a total
analysis turnaround time of days to weeks. Under the direction of the DOE Mixed
Waste Focus Area, MSE Technology Applications has been developing a thermal
desorption-based approach to dioxin/furan sampling and analysis. The thermal
desorption-based technique reduces the combined pre-concentration, extraction,
and analysis time from days or weeks to a few hours. To date, MSE has focused
on adapting the thermal desorption approach to offgas sampling and analysis,
however, thermal desorption appears to lend itself to rapid analysis of soil
and water samples. For soil samples the soil matrix is, in effect, the thermal
desorption “adsorbent” material; for water samples a suitable
adsorbent material, such as diatomaceous earth, could be used to preconcentrate
the analyte during sampling. The authors present the results of thermal
desorption-based sampling and analysis of incineration offgases and
particulate, and describe approaches to adapting the method to sampling and
analysis of waters and soils for dioxins/furans.
Accuracy Assessment of Hyperspectral Imagery: Utah AML Study
Sites
Hauff, Phoebe L. (Spectral International Inc., Arvada, CO); W.
Peppin; E.C. Prosh; D.C. Peters (Peters Geosciences, Golden, CO); E. Dillenbeck
(Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO); G.A. Borstad (G.A. Borstad Assoc. Ltd.,
Sidney, BC, Canada).
Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Conference
on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
Accuracy assessment can be defined as a quantitative evaluation of
the success and reliability of a classification on a hyperspectral image. An
accuracy assessment entails performing direct comparisons between the final
classification and information derived from independent ground-truthing.
Appropriate accuracy assessment is not routinely reported for hyperspectral
image analysis. Rarely are processing statistics and image spectra provided for
published images, which would allow evaluation of the degree of accuracy of the
processing techniques. Different classifications in the same image usually will
have different matching statistics. How this is reported can be misleading. The
other important issue is adequate ground truth. For there to be a high degree
of confidence in an image classification result, site-specific spectral
databases should be used to provide more reliable matches to image data than is
possible with generalized spectral libraries or no training reference spectra
at all.
Examples from three Utah study areas are discussed from the NASA
EOCAP program and the U.S. EPA Utah Abandoned Mine Land Project. The first
example involves establishing the limits of detection for jarosite at the
Dragon Pit, Main Tintic District, and shows the results of using different
spectral regions and broad-band features in obtaining accurate results. The
second example presents alunite distributions within 2.5 km of the Dragon Pit,
and addresses matching statistics to show how broad processing windows can
imply the presence of a classified mineral when the mineral is actually absent
on the ground. A third example ties evidence of large gypsum anomalies,
acid-derived clays, and iron minerals to smelter stack emissions at the
International Smelter site, near Tooele, Utah.
Assessment of Nonpoint Source Pollution from Inactive Mines
Using a Watershed-Based Approach
Caruso, Brian S.; Robert C. Ward.
Environmental Management, Vol 22 No 2, p 225-243, 1998
A watershed-based approach for screening-level assessment of
nonpoint source pollution from inactive and abandoned metal mines has been
designed to use limited stream discharge and chemical data from synoptic
surveys to derive key information required for targeting impaired waterbodies
and critical source areas for detailed investigation and remediation. The
approach was formulated based on the required attributes of an assessment
methodology, information goals for targeting, attributes of data that are
typical of basins with inactive mines, and data analysis methods that were
useful for the case study. The methodology is presented as steps in a framework
that includes evaluation of existing data/information and identification of
data gaps; definition of assessment information goals for targeting and
monitoring design; data collection, management, and analysis; and information
reporting and use for targeting. Data from the Cement Creek Basin in
southwestern Colorado were used for preliminary targeting of locations for
detailed investigation and remediation in an application of the methodology
that was successful in terms of cost-effective generation of information and
use for targeting.
Characterization of a New Low Cost CCD Simultaneous ICP-OES for
Environmental Applications
Cree, M.E. (Varian, Inc., Florham Park, NJ);
Tran Nham; Filippa Minelli; Peter Doidge; Glyn Russell; Michael Knowles (Varian
Australia Pty. Ltd., Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia).
PITTCON 2000,
Abstracts, p 369, 2000
This paper presents the performance and suitability of a new low
cost, CCD-based, simultaneous axially viewed ICP-OES for environmental
analysis. The spectrometer incorporates a new CCD detector that permits the
rapid collection of the full analytical wavelength spectrum. Thus, the speed
and productivity advantages of simultaneous ICP-OES are combined with the
flexibility and freedom from spectral interference of sequential systems.
Performance of this device for instrument and method detection limits, speed of
analysis, and resolution are characterized. The linear dynamic range of this
new system is shown and related to the abilities of the CCD detection system.
This new ICP has been applied to the analysis of wastewaters, soils, and other
typical environmental samples, with data quality established against standard
reference materials for both accuracy and short and long term precision.
Classification over Dragon Mine, Utah from AVIRIS/SFSI versus
Ground Observations
Peppin, W.A. (Spectral International, Denver, CO);
P.L. Hauff; D.C. Peters (Peters Geoscience Denver, CO).
Proceedings of the
Fourteenth International Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8
November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann
Arbor, MI. 2000
Airborne imagery (20-m AVIRIS; 4-m SFSI) taken over Dragon Mine,
Utah, has been studied to perform classifications for ground targets. A
methodology has been developed which allows the investigator to assess,
directly from the imagery, whether the classifications being returned are
correct and sensible. This methodology was supported by an extensive program of
field investigation, in which several hundred samples were taken in and around
the minesite. The targets detected include Alunite, Kaolinite, Halloysite,
Illite, Dolomite, and Nontronite. The authors show, for this particular data
set, that IARR correction to pseudoreflectance gives better results than
standard ATREM processing in the SWIR (2.05 - 2.38 um). The basis of this
statement is that the spectra found on the image from the IARR-corrected AVIRIS
imagery match the known ground spectra more closely than do those obtained from
ATREM-corrected AVIRIS. However, ATREM appears to give better results in the
range 0.6 - 1.3 um. This study dramatizes the need to find independent ways to
check the results of image classifications. Ground observations provided an
essential component of this research.
The Design and Use of Novel Devices for Measuring Oxygen Flux
Through Covers on Sulfidic Waste Rock
Timms, G.P.; J.W. Bennett, ANSTO,
Menai, Australia.
Fifth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage
(ICARD 2000), 21-24 May 2000, Denver, Colorado.
Society for Mining,
Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Littleton, CO. Vol II, p 841-849, 2000
A field-based method for measuring the diffusive oxygen flux
through covers placed on sulfidic waste rock dumps has been developed and
applied at a number of mine sites. The technique provides a means of
quantifying oxidation rates in dumps and can thus be used to assess the
effectiveness of cover systems. Two instruments can be used. The first is
portable and easy to set up, enabling a picture to be built up of the overall
diffusive flux into a dump by making measurements at a sufficient number of
locations. The second is installed beneath a cover and is preferred in
situations where oxygen is consumed in the cover since it provides a direct
measurement of the oxygen flux into the underlying waste rock.
Design Considerations in Field-Portable GC-Based Hyphenated
Instrumentation
Arnold, N.S.; J.P. Dworzanski; S.A. Sheya; W.H.
McClennen; H.L.C. Meuzelaar, Center for Micro Analysis and Reaction Chemistry,
Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology,
Vol 4 No 5, p 219-238, 2000
The TLGC (transfer-line GC) approach to fixed pressure drop
chromatography can be used to illustrate overall theoretical limitations of
various approaches to high-speed GC for real-time monitoring applications. The
three example instruments are a breadboard AVS-TLGC/IMS (ion mobility
spectrometry) instrument, a “roving” automated vapor sampling (AVS)
TLGC/MS instrument, and a breadboard AVS-TLGC/GC instrument. This paper
addresses the application of TLGC theory to instrument design and uses examples
that focus on the eventual application of this technology to the near real-time
detection of highly toxic chemical vapors.
Detecting Leaks from Environmental Barriers Using Electrical
Current Imaging
Binley, A.; W. Daily; A. Ramirez.
Journal of
Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Vol 2 No 1, p 11-19, Mar 1997
The authors propose an approach for evaluating environmental
barrier integrity that is similar in data collection and processing to
electrical resistivity imaging, but maps current density within the subsurface.
The approach can, in some cases, be applied after a leak has been suspected and
may be sensitive to small leaks. The technique was demonstrated with a number
of field experiments of various scales that showed the method to be suitable
for electrically insulating or conducting barriers.
Detecting Mine Pollution Using Hyperspectral Data in Temperate,
Vegetated European Environments
Marsh, Stuart H.; C. Cotton; G. Ager;
D.G. Tragheim, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, England.
Proceedings
of the Fourteenth International Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing,
6-8 November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences,
Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
Seven European geological surveys co-ordinated by EuroGeoSurveys
have won European Commission funding to develop European mine pollution
applications for Earth observation. The three-year MINEO project starts January
2000 and involves users from mining and environmental organizations. During
summer 2000, Hymap data will be acquired over active and inactive European
mining environments from arctic and boreal (Greenland and Finland), through
temperate and alpine (Germany, the UK and Austria), to arid (Portugal). In
subsequent years, novel processing and modeling methodologies will be developed
that are tailored to these difficult environments. The goal is to turn
hyperspectral data into products that non-specialists like planners can use
within their environmental management systems. This paper describes MINEO and
focus on the UK site, the former Cornwall tin-mining district in SW England.
Tin production began in the Bronze Age, reaching a peak in the late 19th
Century, but has now ceased. A legacy of pollution, derelict land and stunted
vegetation makes this an ideal test site. Initial results from the HyMap survey
and associated field campaign are presented.
Development and Application of Liquid and Gas-Chromatographic
Speciation Techniques with Element Specific (ICP-MS) Detection to the Study of
Anaerobic Arsenic Metabolism
Wickenheiser, E.B.; K. Michalke; C.
Drescher; A.V. Hirner; R. Hensel.
Fresenius' Journal of Analytical
Chemistry, Vol 362 No 5, p 498-501, 6 Nov 1998
The authors have developed a method for investigating the
production of volatile hydride and methylated arsenic species by an anaerobic
organism. They report the application of high performance ion chromatography,
hydride generation gas chromatography, and purge and trap gas chromatography
coupled with inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry to study the
formation of ionic and volatile arsenic compounds produced in a batch culture
of the anaerobic methanogen Methanobacterium formicicum. Arsenite, mono-
and dimethylated arsenic acid, arsine, mono-, di- and trimethylarsine, as well
as a currently unknown volatile arsenic species were observed.
Development of Bioluminescent Bioindicators for Analysis of
Environmental Pollution
Kudryasheva, N.; V. Kratasyuk; E. Esimbekova;
E. Vetrova; E. Nemtseva; I. Kudinova
Institute of Biophysics, Krasnoyarsk,
Russia.
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 2 No 5, p 277-280,
1998
The sensitivity of bacterial bioluminescence to metallic salts,
quinones, and phenols was evaluated in five test systems, and inhibition
constants were measured. The data obtained were shown to correlate with the
physical and chemical characteristics of the substances and the structure of
the bioluminescent systems. Three bioluminescent tests (water-soluble enzyme
systems, immobilized enzyme systems, and bioluminescent bacteria) showed higher
sensitivity to pollutants and covered all types of widespread contamination.
Development of Simple Pocket Test Tools for Fast Determination
of Dissolved Sulfate in Waters
Ostrovskaya, V.M.; Y.A. Zolotov; L.K.
Shpigun; P.M. Kamilova; Y.L. Shishkin, Kurnakov Inst. of General &
Inorganic Chemistry of the Russian Acad. of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Field
Analytical Chemistry & Technology 4 No 2-3, p 147-153, 2000
The authors present a rapid field method for routine checks on
dissolved sulfate in surface, running, and potable waters. The method uses
reagent indicator paper strips and a thermometric unit. The RIS-Sulfate-Test
was developed by immobilization of an Arsenazo III-barium complex together with
buffer and masking reagents on cellulose paper. It was adapted to sulfate-ion
determination with the use of visual, densitometric, and photometric
techniques, the lower detection limit being 0.05- 0.1 g L-1 . The sensing
principle is based on the reaction, which gives a colorless barium sulfate
precipitate with a heat of formation of delta H = 4.6 kcal M-1 .
After the strip is immersed into a sample solution for 1 second, the color
changes from black-blue to pink-violet because of sulfate-induced complex
decomposition. Color changes are monitored with the use of a standard color
scale and a miniaturized reflectometer with 660-nm light diode. A miniaturized
calorimeter was used for determining high concentrations of sulfate.
A Distributed Sensor for Pipe Line Leak Detection
Pal
Saini, Devinder (FCI Environmental Inc., Las Vegas, NV); Peter Lagergren.
PITTCON 2000, Abstracts, p 926, 2000
A distributed sensor based on fiber optic technology is capable of
detecting leaks over many kilometers. Leak detection using distributed sensors
allow small and large leaks to be detected before major damage to the
environment has occurred. The hydrocarbon sensor used is based on the fiber
optic sensor already being used in the petroleum industry. These applications
include storage tank leak detection, ground-water monitoring, oil-in-water
monitoring of produced water on offshore platforms, and process water
monitoring. The distributed sensor uses a proprietary coating at equidistant
intervals and an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) in conjunction with
Low Earth Orbit Satellite communications to provide continuous monitoring of
pipelines.
Distribution of Acid-Generating and Acid-Buffering Minerals in
the Animas River Watershed as Determined by AVIRIS Spectroscopy
Dalton,
J.B.; T.V.V. King; D.J. Bove; R.F. Kokaly; R.N. Clark; J.S. Vance; G.A. Swayze,
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO.
Fifth International Conference on Acid
Rock Drainage (ICARD 2000), 21-24 May 2000, Denver, Colorado.
Society for
Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Littleton, CO. Vol II, p
1541-1550, 2000
Visible-wavelength and near-infrared multispectral image cubes for
the Animas River Watershed from Hermosa, Colorado, to the headwaters at Animas
Forks, Colorado, were acquired on June 18, 1996, using the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory's AVIRIS (Airborne Visible and InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer)
instrument. These image cubes have been analyzed using the USGS Tetracorder
V3.4 implementation, an expert system that utilizes a database of more than 300
laboratory spectra of endmember minerals and mineral mixtures to generate maps
of mineralogy, vegetation coverage, and other material distributions. Major
iron-bearing, clay, carbonate, and other minerals were identified along with
several minerals associated with acid-generating hydrothermal systems including
pyrite, jarosite, alunite and goethite. Additionally, distributions of alkaline
minerals such as calcite and chlorite indicate a relation between
acid-buffering assemblages and stream geochemistry within the watershed.
Early Detection of Heavy Metal Accumulation in Plants: Using
Reflectance Properties
Kelley, James, Jackson State Univ., Jackson, MS.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Conference on Applied Geologic
Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM
International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
Leaf spectral reflectance were measured to determine whether
absorption and reflectance patterns in specific wavelength ranges could be used
to indicate heavy metal stress. Lead Nitrate was used as the heavy metal and
Ipomea as the plant in the experiment. Stress was detected at the 550 -
850 nm ranges. However, these ranges are also indicators of other agent stress,
such as dehydration. After further analysis, the 900 -1000nm ranges proved to
be noticeably affected by the lead agent but not by dehydration.
Electrical Impedance Tomography of a Perchloroethelyne
Release
Daily, W.: A. Ramirez; R. Johnson.
Journal of Environmental
and Engineering Geophysics, Vol 2 No 3, p 189-201, Jan 1998
Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) was examined for its
usefulness in mapping free product DNAPL contamination. EIT was used to image
the plume resulting from a release of 50 gallons of perchloroethylene (PCE)
into a saturated aquifer constructed of sand and two layers of bentonite. A
detailed picture of the spatial and the temporal development of the plume was
generated. The electrical impedance (both in phase and out of phase voltages)
was used at several different frequencies to produce images. Some laboratory
measurements of organic contamination in soil indicate a detectable systematic
dispersion.
Elemental Analysis of Landfill Gas by ICP Emission
Spectrometry—New Approach for Monitoring Organochlorine Compounds
Stoddart, J.; A.G. Cox; C.W. McLeod.
Journal of Analytical Atomic
Spectrometry, Vol 15 No 11, p 1498-1500, Nov 2000
Abstract not available.
EPA OSW Methods Update: Method 4656: Fiber Optic Biosensor
Method for the Determination of TNT and RDX in Water
Environmental
Testing & Analysis, Vol 8 No 5, p 8, 1999
Method 4645 is a procedure to screen ground water samples for the
presence of RDX and TNT at concentrations above 5 ppb via a competitive
fluorescent immunoassay on the surface of a fiber optic probe. The sensor can
be adapted for use down a well or for continuous monitoring.
The EPA-Utah Imaging Spectroscopy Project: Overview of 5 Study
Sites and Discussion of Park City Results
Clark, Roger N. [and others],
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth
International Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000,
Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
The EPA funded high and low altitude AVIRIS Imaging spectroscopy
data collections over 5 areas in Utah: Park City and the Wasatch Mountains,
Oquirrh Mountains, Tintic mountains, Tushar Mountains, and Leeds-Silver Reef
region, at St. George. The goals of the project are to map minerals,
environmental materials, and vegetation, and study surficial mineralogy and its
relationship to ore deposits, including environmental impacts, abandoned mine
lands research, ecosystem health, and vegetation distribution. This paper will
provide an overview of the project, data and results and focus on results for
the Park City region. The Park City mining district is situated near the
intersection of the north-trending Wasatch Range and the west-trending Uinta
arch. Intermediate-composition Tertiary stocks have intruded a 3,000 meter
thick sequence of Precambrian, Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. The
sedimentary formations include limestone, dolomite, sandstone, siltstone, and
argillite, and were folded and thrust faulted. The mining district is centered
on one of these folds, the north-trending Park City anticline. Mineral maps
from AVIRIS data were produced for the Park City region. Minerals in both
man-made mineral exposures and natural outcrops throughout the mineralized zone
were mapped. Jarosite, a potential source mineral for acid rock drainage was
mapped in mine tailings/waste rock piles, but the results show no evidence of
down-stream movement of these minerals. Carbonates occur in the region and
provide buffering capacity for acid rock drainage.
EPA's Utah Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Area Mining Watershed
Hyperspectral Imaging and Analysis Project
Selle, Tony; Ken Wangerud,
U.S. EPA Region 8, Denver, CO.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth International
Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000, Las Vegas,
NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
In 1995, U.S. EPA Region 8, in collaboration with NASA-JPL and the
USGS Spectroscopy Lab, began utilizing the Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging
Spectrometry (AVIRIS) system for mineral identification and geochemical mapping
of sources and movement of heavy-metal contamination in mining-impacted
watersheds. EPA's experience (Summitville CO-'93,'95; Leadville CO-'95; Animas
Basin-'97) was that hyperspectral imaging is an important tool for use in the
screening-evaluation of watersheds containing multiple mining sources-releases
where traditional methods of multi-media sampling and analysis would be
extensive, costly, and time consuming. The private sector responding by urging
government agencies to consider utilizing their airborne and satellite-based
detectors and analytical systems. EPA Region 8 invited participation from the
commercial remote sensing and mining company sectors to demonstrate their
capabilities for environmental and land management applications. In addition to
the AVIRIS system, two other airborne hyperspectral detectors (CASI/SFSI and
Probe1) were deployed for specific areas within the overall study. The
commercial sector, either in teams or individually, carried out data analysis
for geochemical and vegetation analysis over significant subsets of the study
areas. Results of both efforts were presented and discussed at a Results
Conference held in June 2000 in Park City, Utah.
Experimental Evaluation of Two Field Test Kits for the
Detection of PAHs by Immunoassay
Waters, L.C. (Oak Ridge National Lab.,
Oak Ridge, TN); M.A. Palausky; R.W. Counts; R.A. Jenkins.
Field Analytical
Chemistry & Technology, Vol 1 No 4, p 227-238, 1997
The project team evaluated two immunoassay-based field test kits
for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). One was used in a quantitative format,
the other in a semiquantitative format. Field samples, including soil and
coal-derived liquids, or samples spiked with either a commercial PAH mixture or
creosote were analyzed. The specificity of a third test kit for carcinogenic
PAHs was verified with the coal-derived liquids. Overall, both kits gave
accurate and reproducible results and were judged to be effective tests for the
analysis of PAH contaminated samples.
Fast Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analysis in Support
of Risk-Based Decisions
Robbat, A., Jr. (Chemistry Dept., Center for
Field Analytical Studies and Technology, Tufts Univ., Medford, MA); S.
Smarason; Yuri Gankin (Ion Signature Technology, Cambridge, MA).
Field
Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 3 No 1, p 55-66, 1999
Ion Fingerprint Detection™, a new data analysis software
system, has been developed to provide fast mass spectral data analysis. Methods
have been developed that can provide screening to quantitative gas
chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) data in as little as 30 seconds. The
authors discuss the data produced for volatile and semivolatile organic
contaminants under fast GC/MS conditions during dynamic site investigations
carried out at Hanscom Air Force Base and Joliet Army Ammunition Plant. More
than 800 samples were analyzed in each project, with regulators accepting the
data to complete remedial investigation/feasibility studies.
Fast GC-PFPD System for Field Analysis of Chemical Warfare
Agents
Frishman, Gad; Aviv Amirav, School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv Univ.,
Tel Aviv, Israel.
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 4 No 4,
p 170-194, 2000
A fast gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a pulsed-flame
photometric detector (PFPD) was designed and built for field analysis of the
full range of chemical warfare agents (CWA). This GC-PFPD system was tested
with five organophosphorus and organosulfur CWA simulants. Fast repetitive
analysis was demonstrated with a cycle time as short as 30 seconds, combined
with very low detection limits of 20 ng/m3 for organophosphorus CWA
simulants and 200 ng/m3 for organosulfur compounds. The GC-PFPD
combination is characterized by a very low false-alarm rate, low average
hydrogen consumption (about 4 ml/min), small size, and low weight, with CWA
identification capability at the molecular level. The system can be switched to
a continuous sampling “sniff” mode of operation with 2-second
response time, as well as operated in a novel mode of thermally modulated inlet
(TMI) that provides intermediate results between those of GC and
“sniff” in terms of the trade-off of response time and performance.
Fenceline Monitoring of Hazardous Air Pollutants by Automatic
GC
Driscoll, J.N.; T. Bishop, Process Analyzers, LLC, Walpole, MA.
PITTCON 2000, Abstracts, p 1252, 2000
For fenceline monitoring, ppb or even sub ppb levels have to be
measured. This requires either a sensitive detector such as a photoionization
detector (PID) or electron capture detector (ECD) and/or a concentrator
(thermal desorber). The measurements can be done in a mobile van or in a number
of fixed stations that surround the plant. The authors discuss some of the
difficulties involved in calibrating and monitoring ppb levels in the field
along with the type of accuracy and reproducibility achieved.
Field-Portable Solid-Phase Microextraction/Fast GC System for
Trace Analysis
Tadeusz Górecki, T.; J. Pawliszyn, Dept. of
Chemistry and Waterloo Centre for Groundwater Research, Univ. of Waterloo,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol
1 No 5, p 277-284, 1997
A commercially available SRI gas chromatograph (Model 9300B) has
been adapted to enable the use of solid phase microextraction (SPME) as the
sample preparation and introduction technique for fast GC separations in the
field. A small-diameter fused silica fiber coated with a polymeric stationary
phase is used to extract organic analytes from aqueous or gaseous matrices.
Then the extracted analytes are thermally desorbed in the injector of a gas
chromatograph. The instrument received a new injector and modifications to the
PID detector, which enabled very fast fiber heating rates (~4000 ·C/s),
producing narrow injection bands suitable for fast GC. Separation of BTEX (100
ppb each compound) within 15 s has been demonstrated with FID and PID detection
with good precision. The instrument was tested in the field in the analysis of
trichloroethylene in soil extracts. PID was used for detection because its
dynamic range is better as compared to a dry electrolytic conductivity
detector. Almost 500 samples were analyzed in 10 days without major problems.
Flow-Through Stripping Chronopotentiometry for the Monitoring
of Mercury in Waste Waters
Beinrohr, E. (Slovak Technical Univ.,
Bratislava, Slovakia); J. Dzurov; J. Annus; J.A.C. Broekaert.
Fresenius'
Journal of Analytical Chemistry, Vol 362 No 2, p 201-204, 1998
A simple method for the determination of total mercury in waste
waters makes use of a flow system incorporating a wall-jet cell equipped with a
gold working electrode. The untreated sample is mixed on-line with the acidic
carrier electrolyte which contains potassium permanganate and transforms the
various species of mercury, especially elementary Hg, to Hg(II). The
pre-treated solution enters the cell, where mercury is deposited on the gold
electrode. Then the deposit is stripped at constant current, and the time
corresponding to the dissolution of the deposit is obtained from the
chronopotentiometric signal. The method enables it to determine and monitor Hg
in the concentration range of 1 to 1000 mg/L in 5 minute intervals.
From the Editor: Companies must Cultivate New Markets for Their
Sensing Technology
Adrian, Peter.
Sensor Business Digest, Vol 10 No
1, Jan-Feb 2001
Photonic Sensor (Atlanta, GA, 770-300-0593), a spin-off from the
Georgia Institute of Technology founded in 1992, is cultivating market
opportunities for its integrated optic chip technology in varied biological and
chemical sensing applications. The company has exclusive commercial rights to
an innovative integrated optic chip technology invented at Georgia Tech. The
detection circuits in the chip allow direct, real-time measurement of chemicals
and biomolecules in liquids and gases. Multiple sensing circuits can be defined
on a single chip, permitting simultaneous measurement of many substances.
Photonic Sensor has demonstrated a 13-channel chip; and up to 100 channels are
possible without increasing the size of the chip. A complete sensing
instrument--including the optical chip and the associated reader--can be
packaged in a housing about the size and complexity of a PalmPilot®.
Depending on the application, the optical chip can be reusable or part of a
disposable, plug-and-play cartridge. Prototype integrated optic sensors have
been developed for measuring BTEX in ground water and detecting ammonia in
vapor and aqueous phases. Photonic Sensor has established a strategic alliance
with Royce Instrument Corporation (New Orleans, LA), a supplier of water
quality monitoring instruments. The two companies are developing a suite of
wastewater sensors slated for introduction October 2001. The wastewater sensor
is intended to replace drawing samples and performing analyses in a remote lab
and should provide significant savings in terms of cost, time, and ease of use.
Initially, the integrated optic chips for Royce's instruments will have 8
channels and will target an evolving array of analytes, such as PH, ammonia,
dissolved oxygen, chlorine, and pesticides.
The optical chip has a very rapid response. Most chemical
measurements are virtually instantaneous. The sensors can be configured for
continuous monitoring, since the sensing circuits measure increases and
decreases in the concentration of a target substance, and a wide range of
sensing applications. In research applications, users are able to customize
bare optical chips with their own selective coatings. In quantities of millions
of units, optical chips are expected to be produced at costs of $5.00 or less
per chip. The cost for a complete, reusable sensor system could be under
$1,000.
Fundamental Considerations for the Application of Miniature Ion
Mobility Spectrometry to Field Analytical Applications
Spangler, G.E.,
Technispan LLC, Pikesville, MD.
Field Analytical Chemistry &
Technology, Vol 4 No 5, p 255-267, 2000
Radio frequency ion mobility spectrometry (RF-IMS) separates ions
by applying an asymmetric RF field across two parallel plates and passing the
ions through the separator. The performance of the device depends on a
nonlinear relationship between the drift velocity and an electric field,
instead of a simple linear relationship. The authors have developed a detailed
momentum-transfer theory to describe the nonlinear relationship.
Gas Chromatography Enhances Site Investigations, NEWMOA
Says
Hazardous Waste Superfund Week, Vol 23 No 2, 8 Jan 2001
Consultants can better detect contaminants at Superfund and
hazardous waste sites through field portable gas chromatography if the
technology is used correctly with the appropriate detection equipment,
according to the technology review committee of the Northeast Waste Management
Officials Association (NEWMOA). In an advisory titled Innovative Technology:
Gas Chromatography Field Analysis, the committee found that gas
chromatography can provide useful data that improves site characterization and
cleanup verifications. The committee recommended that users be thoroughly
trained on gas chromatography technology. Workers also should collect and
handle soil and water samples using standard procedures for the sake of
consistency and to reduce the loss of volatile components. Gas chromatography
users should note that certain compounds can interfere with detection equipment
and take appropriate precautions. For copies of the advisory, contact William
Cass, executive director, NEWMOA, (617) 367-8558.
Geochemical Studies to Characterize the Complex Sulfur
Mineralogy at Red Dog Pb-Zn Mine
Day, S. (SPK Consulting, Vancouver,
BC, Canada); G. Coulter (Cominco Alaska, Kotzebue, AK); M. Falutsu.
Proceedings from the Fifth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage
(ICARD 2000), 21-24 May 2000, Denver, Colorado.
Society for Mining,
Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Littleton, CO. Vol I, p 683-692, 2000
Open-pit mining began at Red Dog in 1989. Mining is expected to
continue past 2030, but closure planning is an ongoing process. Geochemical
studies of rock and tailings were begun in 1996 as part of development of
closure plans to address leaching of metals and ARD. The deposit has many
different primary and secondary sulfur minerals in amounts that preclude the
use of conventional geochemical characterization methods. This paper describes
development of a specific chemical method to estimate the speciation of sulfur
and classify wastes according to reactivity.
Geoelectrical Methods for Investigating Mine Dumps
Campbell, D.L.; D.V. Fitterman, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO.
Fifth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage (ICARD 2000), 21-24
May 2000, Denver, Colorado.
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and
Exploration, Inc. (SME), Littleton, CO. Vol II, p 1513-1523, 2000
The USGS has used direct current resistivity (DC), electromagnetic
(EM), induced polarization (IP), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR)
geoelectrical methods to study mine dumps. The results reflect lithology, pore
water saturation, and dissolved solids in the pore water. If the pore water has
a pH less than 5, conductivity maps can indicate acid generating potential. IP
measurements can help distinguish mineralogy in mine dumps, especially
concentrations of sulfide minerals. EM and DC can help locate acidic/high TDS
groundwater associated with mine dumps. GPR methods failed at the western sites
studied. These conclusions are augmented by surveys of the recent literature.
For more information, please visit
http://crustal.usgs.gov/minewaste/pdfs/campbell.pdf
GPR Modeling Study in a Contaminated Area of Krzywa Airbase
Carcione, Joséé M. (Osservatorio Geofisico Sperimentale,
Trieste, Italy); Henryk Marcak (Inst. of Geophysics, Univ. of Mining and
Metallurgy); Gééza Seriani; Giorgio Padoan.
Journal of
Conference Abstracts. European Union of Geosciences: EUG 10 Meeting, 28 March -
1 April 1999, Strasbourg, France
Krzywa Airbase is a former soviet military base that is highly
polluted due to soil contamination during the dismantling of fuel tanks. In
some areas, the spilled fuel can be exploited in the system of drainage wells.
In general, the contamination can be correlated with the geological structure.
The geometrical features of the floating hydrocarbons on the water table can be
identified and mapped with the ground penetrating radar (GPR) technique. Since
aviation gasoline has a relative permittivity of 2 and water has a permittivity
of 80, the detection is mainly based on the permittivity contrast between the
hydrocarbon and ground-water saturated layers. Differences in conductivity
constitutes an additional effect to aid in the interpretation of the
radargrams. The researchers evaluated the degree of hydrocarbon saturation that
can be detected with the GPR technique and, in addition, determined the antenna
frequency required to resolve the contaminated layer. The radar simulation was
based on a pseudospectral forward modeling technique, and the model for
computing the effective permittivities and conductivities of sand/clay mixtures
was based on a self-similar theory for the sandy component and a transversely
isotropic constitutive equation for the shaly component.
Ground Geophysical Study of the Buckeye Mine Tailings, Boulder
Watershed, Montana
McDougal, R.R.; B.D. Smith, U.S. Geological Survey,
Denver, CO.
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-371, 56 pp, 2000
During the summers of 1998 and 1999, ground geophysical surveys,
including electromagnetic (EM),direct current (DC) resistivity, and total field
magnetic methods, were used to examine the location and extent of high
conductivities possibly related to metal contamination in the tailings and
surrounding area. The geophysical data were also used to examine possible
movement of metals associated with local ground-water flow. For more
information, please visit
http://crustal.usgs.gov/minewaste/pdfs/mcdougal_online_buck.pdf.
Hand-Portable Gas-Detector Array (GDA) for Rapid Field
Detection and Identification of Chemical Threat
Matz, G. ; T. Hunte; W.
Schroeder, Technical Univ. of Hamburg-Harburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Field
Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 4 No 4, p 195-203, 2000
In the event of a chemical emergency, single-compound detectors
may not provide any information or may provide misleading information, and
there is always the danger of failing to detect important toxic substances if
only one sensing technology is used. The researchers have developed a portable
gas detector array (GDA) for use by firefighters and other emergency response
personnel. This paper outlines the GDA’s analytical capabilities, selected
sensors, signal interpretation, and measuring strategy, as well as first
experiences from the fire brigades using the prototype instruments.
High Conductivities Associated with an LNAPL Plume Imaged by
Integrated Geophysical Techniques
Sauck, W.A.; E.A. Atekwana; M.S.
Nash.
Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Vol 2 No 3, p
203-212, Jan 1998
An integrated geophysical investigation was conducted at a former
fire training facility using GPR, Electrical Resistivity, and Self Potential
(SP) methods. The results show a region of attenuated GPR signals resulting in
a ?shadow’ zone over areas with LNAPL contamination. Low resistivities and
high SP anomalies were also observed over the contaminated zones and found to
be coincident with areas of GPR ?shadow’. These results suggest the
presence of more conductive ground water within plume areas. The ?shadow’
zones observed in the GPR records may be an indication of radio wave
attenuation due to elevated ground-water conductivity, an explanation supported
by geochemical studies that indicate the presence of highly conductive waters
below some LNAPL plumes due to the release of ions from aquifer solids by
reaction with organic acids or carbonic acids derived from the biodegradation
of the hydrocarbon compounds. The authors hypothesize that hydrocarbon spills
in the natural environment cause changes from electrically resistive to
conductive behavior over time due to biodegradation.
Hydrostratigraphic Characterization of Unconsolidated Alluvial
Deposits with Direct-Push Sensor Technology
Butler, J.J., Jr. (Kansas
Geological Survey, Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence); J.M. Healey; L. Zheng; W. McCall
(Geoprobe Systems, Salina, KS); M. K. Schulmeister (Kansas Dept. of Health and
Environment, Bureau of Environmental Remediation, Topeka).
Kansas
Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-40
In the last decade, direct-push (DP) technology has become a
viable alternative to conventional drilling methods for sampling soils,
sediments and ground water in unconsolidated formations. This technology has
been particularly widely used for a range of activities in support of
environmental site investigations. The DP technology utilized in this study
employs high-frequency (~ 30 Hz) percussion hammers and hydraulic slide system,
mounted on conventional pick-up trucks, vans, or specialized track machines to
rapidly advance pipes into the subsurface. Advantages of DP technology over
conventional drilling methods include include smaller less-expensive systems
with greater mobility, simpler operation with less physical labor required, no
generation of drill cuttings, and less disturbance of the subsurface. The
authors show the level of hydrostratigraphic detail that can be obtained by
coupling DP technology with a new generation of down-hole sensors. For more
information
http://www.kgs.ukans.edu/Hydro/Publications/OFR99_40/index.html.
Identification of Mineral Extraction Waste Products Using the
SFSI and CASI Hyperspectctral Imagers at the Bauer Mill Site, Stockton, Utah
Dillenbeck, Eric D. (Colorado School of Mines, Dept. of Geology and
Geological Engineering, Golden, CO); D.C. Peters; P.L. Hauff; G.A. Borstad;
L.G. Closs.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Conference on
Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian
ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. p 574-581, 2000
Stockton, Utah, was a center of lead, silver, and zinc mining and
processing activities from 1864 to 1976. Many small processing facilities were
located in and near the town, with several homes in the town built on tailings.
The Bauer Mill and tailings site is located 1 mile north of Stockton and was
active between 1900 and 1973. Arsenic-rich unreclaimed tailings cover at least
160 acres at the site. The primary environmental concern identified by the EPA
and Utah Dept. of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) at Bauer is the transportation
of tailings from the site by prevailing southerly winds. Agricultural,
residential, and light industrial development has been and is being considered
for areas near and potentially downwind of the Bauer site. Hyperspectral
airborne data were collected using the SWIR Full Spectrum Imager (SFSI) and the
Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI), with the goal of mapping the
distribution of tailings and characterizing areas of mineral processing and
extraction activity at the Bauer Mill site and near the town of Stockton.
Classification and mineral mapping images of both SWIR-active and VNIR
iron-mineral maps were produced in an attempt to define the limits of waste
impacts. SWIR-active minerals, including smectite and gypsum, were found in
samples collected at the Bauer Mill site and analyzed with the PIMATM II
spectrometer.
HyMap Hyperspectral Remote Sensing to Detect Hydrocarbons
Hoerig, B.; F. Kuehn.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth International
Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000, Las Vegas,
NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
The ability of airborne hyperspectral remote sensing methods to
detect hydrocarbons was investigated by the Federal Institute of Geosciences
and Natural Resources. Reference areas of defined geometry and chemical
properties were prepared, e.g., sandy soil, oil-contaminated soil, grass,
plastic tarpaulins. The aim of the study was to collect airborne hyperspectral
scanner data from these areas and simultaneously determine their spectra with
the infrared intelligent spectroradiometer GER MARK V IRIS. The data
corrections and further processing were based on data provided by the field
spectrometer. This study showed that airborne hyperspectral remote sensing can
be used to efficiently detect hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon-bearing substances are
characterised by typical absorption features in the spectra. The availability
of the high signal-to-noise-ratio HyMap hyperspectral airborne imaging system
permits these features to be recognised in the pixel spectra even when they not
very pronounced. Oil-contaminated soil and other materials containing
hydrocarbons can be detected and located directly and unambiguously by image
processing focused on the spectral characteristics of hydrocarbons. By this
procedure, atmospheric correction of the HyMap data is not necessary.
Hyperspectral Characterization of Soils and Sensitive Habitats,
Camp Shelby Training Site, Mississippi
Ford, J.M.; C.P. Cameron; D.M.
Patrick; M. Harrison, Univ. of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Conference on Applied Geologic
Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM
International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
HyMap hyperspectral imagery, as well as ground hyperspectral data,
are being used to supplement and enhance on-going studies at the Camp Shelby
Training Site, MS. Specific project objectives include identification of
wetland classes, and verification or refinement of a previously established
hydrogeomorphic model; refinement of a previously developed, working geologic
map; determination of the effectiveness of remote sensing imagery in
identifying and predicting erosion susceptibility; detection of change at
selected wetland and erosion locations; and incorporation of the data sets
produced into the existing Geographic Information System (GIS). Analysis of the
airborne imagery is aided by the use of a hyperspectral field-portable
spectrometer that collects high-resolution ground data of soils and vegetation.
False color imagery in the VNIR and SWIR highlights soils and vegetation
spectral characteristics specific to wetlands, pitcher plant bogs, mid-slope
clay-silts, and upland soils and sediments. These spectral signatures
facilitate rapid and precise delineation of wetlands and bogs in a
geo-referenced framework.
Hyperspectral Investigations of Mine Waste and Abandoned Mine
Lands: the Dragon Mine, Utah, Calibration Site Case Study
Hauff, Phoebe
L. (Spectral International, Aradad, CO); D.C. Peters; W. Peppin; G.E. Borstad;
E.C. Prosh; F.B. Henderson, III; E. Dillenbeck; L.G. Closs.
Proceedings of
the Fourteenth International Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8
November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann
Arbor, MI. p 566-573, 2000
The utilization of airborne hyperspectral data for the evaluation
of mine waste and the classification of Abandoned Mine Lands (AMLs) is becoming
an operational, commercial technology. Under the auspices of the NASA EOCAP
Program and the U.S. EPA Utah AML-Watershed Project, several sites in Utah are
under investigation using AVIRIS, SFSI, and CASI hyperspectral sensors. Among
the Utah areas studied by a NASA-sponsored team is the Tintic
silver-gold-lead-zinc district southwest of Salt Lake City. This paper presents
an overview of the EPA-designated Dragon Pit calibration site within the Main
Tintic District, and discusses the sensors and the investigative methodology
developed using extensive ground-truthing to create and refine the
hyperspectral images. This site provides a unique opportunity to compare
imagery from high-altitude AVIRIS (20-m pixels), low-altitude AVIRIS (3-5-m
pixels), and SFSI (4-m pixels), and to demonstrate the differences and
applications of each spatial and spectral resolution type over one target. The
Dragon Pit is a large halloysite-kaolinite clay deposit with iron oxides,
alunite, and illite, and exotic minerals such as gibbsite and nontronite. This
mine offers a variety of minerals found in many neutral drainage mine waste
sites presently under environmental investigation. It also offers an
opportunity to examine the role of iron minerals with low acid-production
potential and the implications for the evaluation of abandoned mine lands.
Identification of Cleveland Mine Tailings in Hunters Creek
Drainage, Stevens County, Washington
Huntamer, Dickey D., Washington
State Dept. of Ecology, Manchester Environmental Lab., Port Orchard, WA.
The Microscope, Vol 48 No 2, p 93-105, 2000
This study examines the stream sediments to determine if the
tailing pile material is still entering the creek. Size and density separation
of the sediments followed by microscopic examination of the particulate matter
showed the presence of tailing pile particulate matter in the stream sediments.
The mine tailing grains are recognizable microscopically by the presence of an
orange-yellow "goethite" coating on the mineral grains. Microchemical testing
for solubility of the coating in warm hydrochloric acid and heating in a closed
capillary help distinguish the coated grains from the naturally yellow colored
grains in the sediments.
Imaging Spectroscopy: A New Screening Tool for Mapping Acidic
Mine Waste
Swayze, G.A.; K.S. Smith; R.N. Clark; S.J. Sutley, U.S.
Geological Survey, Denver, CO.
Proceedings from the Fifth International
Conference on Acid Rock Drainage (ICARD 2000), 21-24 May 2000, Denver,
Colorado.
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME),
Littleton, CO. Vol II, p 1531-1539, 2000
Imaging spectroscopy is a remote sensing tool that provides a
rapid method to screen entire mining districts for potential sources of surface
acid drainage. An imaging spectrometer, Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging
Spectrometer (AVIRIS), measures light reflected from the surface in 224
spectral channels from 0.4 - 2.5 mm. Spectral data were used to evaluate mine
waste at the California Gulch Superfund Site near Leadville, CO. At this site,
the process of pyrite oxidation at the surface produces acidic water that is
gradually neutralized as it drains away from mine waste, depositing a central
jarosite zone surrounded by a jarosite + goethite zone, in turn surrounded by a
goethite zone with a discontinuous hematite rim zone. Leaching tests show that
pH is most acidic in the jarosite and jarosite+goethite zones and is
near-neutral in the goethite zone. The U.S. EPA estimates that AVIRIS data have
accelerated remediation efforts by two years and saved over $2 million in
cleanup costs at Leadville.
Immunoassay for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Using Screen
Printed Electrodes
Del Carlo, Michele; Marco Mascini, Dipartimento di
Sanità Pubblica, Univ. di Firenze, Firenze, Italia.
Field Analytical
Chemistry & Technology, Vol 3 No3, p 179-184, 1999
A disposable sensor for the detection of polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) in soil samples has been developed using polyclonal antibodies as the
recognizing element and carbon-based screen-printed electrochemical electrodes
as the sensing element. The analysis scheme has been based on the competitive
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) protocol. This paper characterizes
the screen-printed electrodes and describes the results of performance testing
for PCBs in soil.
In Situ Monitoring of Aquatic Systems: Chemical Analysis and
Speciation
Buffle, Jacques (Univ. of Geneva, Switzerland); George
Horvai (Technical Univ. of Budapest, Hungary).
Wiley, New York. ISBN:
0-471-48979-4. 642 pp, 2000
In situ monitoring relies on portable analytical instruments that
can be taken to the stream rather than samples brought back to the laboratory
for testing. This book helps to define which technique is most suitable for a
particular application and what can be expected in terms of performance.
Innovations In Site Characterization: Geophysical Investigation
at Hazardous Waste Sites
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Washington, DC.
EPA 542-R-00-003. 192 pp, Aug 2000
This compendium describes geophysical technologies and methods
that were used at 11 sites with significantly different geological settings and
types of subsurface contamination, ranging from relatively homogeneous
stratigraphy to the highly heterogeneous mix of sand and clay layers. The types
of contamination fell primarily into three broad groups: chlorinated solvents,
petroleum-related compounds, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The types of
geophysical technologies represented in the eleven case studies include ground
penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetometry (EM), electrical conductivity or
resistivity, seismic reflection or refraction, magnetometry, and natural gamma
logging. For more information, please visit http://cluin.org/pub1.cfm
Instrumentation Design and Installation for Monitoring Air
Injection Ground Water Remediation Technologies
Hall, B.L.; C.K.
Baldwin; T.E. Lachmar; R.R. Dupont.
Ground Water Monitoring and
Remediation, Vol 20 No 2, p 46-54, 2000
An in situ instrumentation bundle was designed for inclusion in
monitoring wells that were installed at the Wasatch Trailer Sales site in
Layton, Utah, to evaluate in situ air sparging (IAS) and in-well aeration
(IWA). Sensors for the bundle were selected based on laboratory evaluation of
accuracy and precision, as well as consideration of size and cost. SenSym
pressure transducers, Campbell Scientific Inc. (CSI) T-type thermocouples, and
dissolved oxygen (DO) probes manufactured by Technalithics Inc. (Waco, Texas),
were selected for each of the 27 saturated zone bundles. Each saturated zone
bundle also included a stirring blade to mix water near the DO probe. A Figaro
oxygen sensor was included in the vadose zone bundle. The monitoring wells were
installed by direct push technique to minimize soil disruption and to ensure
intimate contact between the 18 inch (46 cm) long screens and the soil. A data
acquisition system, comprised of a CSI 21X data logger and four CSI AM416
multiplexers, was used to control the stirring blades and record signals from
more than 70 in situ sensors. The instrumentation generally worked well in
terms of sensor implementation, routine maintenance requirements, and
reliability of the data acquisition system. However, the SenSym pressure
transducers were not adequately temperature compensated and will need to be
replaced.
An Investigation of the Partitioning of Metals in Mine Wastes
Using Sequential Extractions
Leinz, R.W.; S.J. Sutley; G.A. Desborough;
P.H. Briggs.
Proceedings from the Fifth International Conference on Acid
Rock Drainage (ICARD 2000), 21-24 May 2000, Denver, Colorado.
Society for
Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Littleton, CO. Vol II, p
1489-1499, 2000
The mode of occurrence of metals in mine wastes was investigated
using sequential extractions. Metals were extracted from some or all of seven
operationally-defined phases: water-soluble, ion-exchangeable, carbonate,
amorphous Fe-oxide, crystalline Fe-oxide, sulfide, and silicate. The quantity
of metals extracted from each phase varied with particle size. The presence of
jarosite influences the selection of the procedure for extracting the
crystalline Fe-oxide phase. Anglesite and cerussite are extracted as several
phases. Extraction results can be explained only in part by X-ray diffraction
(XRD) mineralogy because of lack of specificity of the extraction procedures,
relatively high XRD detection limits, and the presence of 40% XRD-amorphous
matter in each waste. The increasing chemical strength of the sequentially
applied methods provides a basis for judging metal availability, water-soluble
metals being most available and silicate-bound metals being least available.
This paper updates the information provided at the 1999 conference under the
title “The Use of Sequential Extractions for the Chemical Speciation of
Mine Wastes.” For more information, please visit
http://crustal.usgs.gov/minewaste/pdfs/leinz1.pdf
Landfill Monitoring: What's New?
Magnuson, A.
MSW
Management, Vol 9 No 4, p 40 & 42-46, 1999
The author reviews some new methods for monitoring landfill gases
and leaks. These methods include the Electronic Leak Detection System (ELDS) to
detect leaks in landfill covers and bottom liners, instruments to analyze
ground water composition continuously, probes to search for leachate plumes,
and methane monitoring and operations technology.
Location and Characterization of Subsurface Anomalies Using a
Soil Conductivity Probe
Beck, F.P., Jr.; P.J. Clark; R.W. Puls, U.S.
EPA, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH.
Ground
Water Monitoring and Remediation, Vol 20 No 2, p 55-59, Spring 2000
A new conductivity probe, adapted for use with "direct push"
technology, has been successfully used to locate buried drums and contaminant
plumes, and to precisely locate and characterize a previously installed
permeable reactive iron wall. The conductivity probe was designed to
characterize various soil types as the probe was driven through the vadose
zone, but it also can be used to locate and characterize subsurface anomalies.
The probe uses an electrical field like that of an engineering tool called the
Schlumberger Array. This field penetrates into the soil matrix surrounding the
probe to a radius of about two inches to measure the conductivity of the soil
matrix. The tool has permitted precise verification of the location of man-made
or natural subsurface anomalies.
A Man-Portable, Photoionization Time-of-Flight Mass
Spectrometer
Syage, J.A.; Mark A. Hanning-Lee; Karl A. Hanold, Syagen
Technology, Inc., Tustin, CA.
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology,
Vol 4 No 4, p 204-215, 2000
Syagen constructed and operated a prototype instrument with the
use of a novel atmospheric sampling photoionization source coupled to a
quadrupole-ion-trap, time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a notebook-computer
data-acquisition system and a new low-power ion-trap RF source. The authors
describe a feasibility demonstration for the 30-lb, field-portable chemical
analysis system, which has a detection capability comparable to that of a
benchtop system. The system achieved detection limits of 10-100 ppb and 5-50 pg
for phosphonates and aromatic compounds. An air and liquid sampler was
developed and shown to have a response time of 1 to 10 seconds, depending on
mode of operation. The system’s analyzer and processor can record mass
spectra at 200 Hz, enabling fast gas chromatography.
Mapping Mineral Zonation at the White Horse Alunite Deposit
Near Marysvale, Utah Using AVIRIS Data and X-Ray Diffraction
Rockwell,
B.W.; R.N. Clark; C.G. Cunningham; S.J. Sutley; C.A. Gent; R.R. Mc Dougal; K.E.
Livo, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth
International Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000,
Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
As a part of the EPA/USGS Utah Abandoned Mine Lands Imaging
Spectroscopy Project, the USGS is using AVIRIS data, X-ray diffraction, and
field surveys to study five major mining districts in Utah. Surface mineralogy
and vegetation will be mapped in an effort to more fully understand the
relationships between ore deposit types and possible environmental effects
caused by the mining and processing of ores from these deposits. The White
Horse mine, located 7 kilometers northeast of Marysvale, Utah, is a replacement
alunite deposit formed during and immediately after the intrusion of a series
of quartz monzonite stocks at 23 Ma.
A Method for Designing Configurations of Nested Monitoring
Wells near Landfills
Hudak, Paul F., Univ. of North Texas, Denton.
Hydrogeology Journal, Vol 6 No 3, p 341-348, 1998
A method was devised for designing configurations of monitoring
wells, consisting of vertically nested intakes in boreholes. The network-design
method involves analyzing a subset of potential contaminant plumes emerging
from the downgradient margin of a landfill. Plume widths are evaluated along
selected equipotential lines and compared to the lengths of those lines. The
method was applied to a 32-ha solid-waste landfill in Tarrant County, Texas.
Sixty-nine potential source nodes were considered. A 15-borehole network
devised by the method registered 93 detections in total, detecting all 69
model-generated plumes by at least one borehole. Based on an enumeration
procedure, a minimum of 10 boreholes was needed to detect all of the
model-generated plumes. However, the less conservative 10-borehole network had
little capability for backup detection. An existing monitoring network of seven
downgradient wells detected only 38 model-generated plumes. Results of this
study illustrate a practical need for structured approaches to designing
detection-based groundwater-monitoring configurations.
Mine and Mill Waste Characterization Using CASI/SFSI
Hyperspectral Data: Utah Abandoned Mine Lands Study Areas
Peters,
Douglas C. (Peters Geosciences, Golden, CO); P.L. Hauff; G.A. Borstad; F.B.
Henderson, III; W.A. Peppin; E.D. Dillenbeck; E.C. Prosh; L.G. Closs; J.L.
Thiros; D.W. Coulter; K. Lee; D.A. Robbins; K.W. Wangerud.
Proceedings of
the Fourteenth International Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8
November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann
Arbor, MI. p 54-61, 2000
The project team has been evaluating the application of CASI and
SFSI data to mine and mill wastes in central Utah, specifically in the
International Smelter area near Tooele and in the Tintic and Stockton mining
districts. AVIRIS data have been used as a basis for identifying the relative
importance of spatial and spectral resolution for identifying and
characterizing wastes. An overview of investigations is given and selected
results highlighted to show the advantages and limitations of hyperspectral
data as used for mine and mill waste characterization. The Bauer Mill in the
Stockton District represents a completely unreclaimed mill site, with
associated exposed tailings and waste dumps. Near the other end of the
reclamation spectrum is the International Smelter area, which was reclaimed in
the late 1980s and converted to a Utah Wildlife Reservation. These two sites
allow identification of mineralogy and chemical conditions (such as potential
or actual acid production) in the raw state (Bauer Mill) and where they are
impacting revegetation success (International Smelter). The Stockton District
is the oldest mining district in Utah and allowed evaluation of abandoned
underground mines and dumps of various sizes for acid-production potential and
any apparent impacts on the Rush Lake watershed. In the Tintic District,
various mine sites were evaluated, with emphasis on the Dragon Pit and
surroundings which served as a common comparison site for the various airborne
data collection and processing teams involved in the project.
MINE WASTE CHARACTERIZATION WEBSITE
The U.S. Geological Survey Mine Waste Characterization Project has
taken a multidisciplinary approach to assemble, develop, and refine methods and
tools for characterizing and screening weathered solid-mine wastes. Researchers
from a variety of disciplines, including geophysics, geochemistry analytical
chemistry, geology, mineralogy, remote sensing, and spatial modeling, have
worked together at metal mining waste sites in Colorado and New Mexico to
develop an integrated "toolkit" for the rapid screening and characterization of
historical mine-waste piles. Detailed studies have been conducted at eight main
mine-dump sites (six are located in Colorado), representing both igneous-hosted
and carbonate-hosted polymetallic deposits, to examine the influence of
carbonate materials. Two other sites are arid analog mine-waste piles in
southwestern New Mexico chosen to examine the influence of climate. Tools
developed from this work can be used in ranking and prioritizing historical
mine-waste piles. For more information, please visit
http://crustal.usgs.gov/minewaste
MINEO Assessing and Monitoring the Environmental Impact of
Mining Activities in Europe Using Advanced Earth Observation Techniques
Chevrel, S. (BRGM, Orleans, France); V. Kuosmannen (GTK, Espoo, Finland);
S. Marsh (BGS, Keyworth, UK); T. Tukianen (GEUS, Copenhagen, Denmark).
Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Conference on Applied Geologic
Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM
International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
On behalf of EuroGeoSurveys, the association of the geological
surveys of the European Union, the MINEO project gathers seven European
Geological Surveys, the Joint Research Centre of EU, two mining companies and
one environmental research institute. Their objective is to develop
cost-effective and standardized tools and methods to assess and monitor the
impact of mining activities from Earth Observation (hyperspectral imagery)
data, which could be further used to update environmental databases. To these
ends, MINEO aims at developing methods for the extraction of information and
knowledge on soil and water contamination related to mining activities from
Earth Observation data, and developing the key components of the
decision-making tools and methods to exploit these data and facilitate their
use in sustainable information systems. To undertake the envisioned
methodological developments, six mining areas, five within Europe (Portugal,
United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and Finland) and one in Greenland have been
selected for investigation, to reflect European climatic, geographic and
socio-economic environment diversity. Hyperspectral airborne data acquisition
and related ground truth have been carried out last summer over the test sites
using the HyMap imaging spectroradiometer operated by HyVista Corp.
Mineral Mapping in the Oquirrh Mountains Region Using AVIRIS
Data for the Utah USGS-EPA Imaging Spectroscopy Project
Mc Dougal, R.R.
(U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO); B.W. Rockwell; K.E. Livo; R.N. Clark;
R.F. Kokaly; S.J. Sutley; C.A. Gent; J.S. Vance (U.S. EPA, Denver, CO); R.
Pearson (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO).
Proceedings of the
Fourteenth International Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8
November 2000, Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann
Arbor, MI. 2000
This project is part of the Utah 1998 EPA-USGS AVIRIS study. The
principal elements of this joint investigation include mapping and
characterization of surficial minerals, research of abandoned mine lands,
vegetation studies, and specific ecosystem research and evaluation. The study
area (the Oquirrh Mountains and Rush Valley), located southwest of Salt Lake
City, includes the Camp Floyd (Mercur), Bingham, Ophir-Rush Valley (Stockton)
mining districts, and the southeastern portion of the Tooele Army Depot. Gold
and copper are the chief mineral commodities, with lead, silver, arsenic, and
tungsten also being mined. The Oquirrh Mountains are composed of a Paleozoic
sedimentary suite that is more that 22,000 feet thick. The units are deformed
into a series of northwest trending folds, including the Ophir Anticline in the
vicinity of the Mercur mine. The folding is the result of Sevier style
deformation, with regional principal compression from the southwest. The
Ophir-Rush Valley district consists of sedimentary formations that range in age
from Cambrian to Pennsylvanian. The sedimentary layers are intruded by various
igneous dikes, and are cut by numerous normal faults. The AVIRIS data, aquired
in August, 1998 were calibrated to surface reflectance using the standard USGS
Spectroscopy Lab methods. Calibrated data were analyzed, and mapping results
were produced using the USGS. Tetracorder algorithm. Field verification and
investigation, based on the preliminary AVIRIS mapping, began in the summer of
1999 and focused on alluvial fan deposits that resulted from mining activities
in the southern part of the range (Mercur District). The project illustrates
how imaging spectroscopy can be used to develop an integrated strategy for
geologic and environmental investigations.
Modelling Vegetation Anomalies as Bio-Indicators of
Near-Surface Hydrocarbon Leakage From Pipelines: An Experimental Approach
De Oliveira, Wilson Jose (Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras), Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil); Carlos Roberto De Souza Filho (Univ. of Campinas, Campinas,
Brazil); Alvaro Penteado Crósta.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth
International Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000,
Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
Long-term hydrocarbon gas seepage can cause significant combined
soil-vegetation anomaly, and stress in vegetation overlaying such toxic
substances can often be measured by remote sensing technologies. To investigate
this phenomenon and to understand the effects of hydrocarbon derived from
pipeline leaks in soils and vegetation, the researchers devised an
environmentally-controlled experiment. Firstly, three independent ground
cavities (60m long, 5m wide, and 1m deep) were made in an opened area,
specially prepared for the investigation. These cavities were sealed with a
synthetic sheet to avoid further soil and water table contamination. Perforated
tubes linked to hydrocarbon reservoirs were placed at the base of these 'large
vessels' and specific soil layers reconfigured. Agricultural crops and pasture
seeds were planted and grown over these 'vessels'. Gasoline and diesel oil were
injected slowly but continuously throughout the experiment (~4 weeks) into two
rows of crops. The third row of crops had no hydrocarbon injection and it was
used for comparison purposes. Physical, chemical, and radiometric
characteristics of soils and vegetation were measured and evaluated for both,
contaminated and non-contaminated crops. Radiometric measurements were made
periodically using a FieldSpec FR spectroradiometer, operating in the 0,3-2,5mm
range. Preliminary results indicate that the presence of hydrocarbons caused
changes on the spectral and chemical patterns of the vegetation due to
nutritional deficiencies. The experiment also suggests that high spatial and
spectral resolution sensors can be used to discern between vegetation grown
over pipeline oil leaks, probably even in areas where hydrocarbon in the soil
is below detection limits.
Monitoring DNAPL Pumping Using Integrated Geophysical
Techniques
Newmark, R.L.; W.D. Daily; K.R. Kyle; A.L. Ramirez.
Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Vol 3 No 1, p 7-13,
Mar 1998
The removal of DNAPL during pumping has been monitored using
integrated in situ geophysical techniques. At Hill Air Force Base in Utah, a
free-product DNAPL plume (predominantly TCE) is pooled in water-wet soil on a
thick clay aquitard. From September 1994 through September 1995, changes in the
basin during DNAPL pumping were monitored using fiber optic chemical sensors,
neutron logs and electrical resistance tomography (ERT). Fiber optic sensors
and neutron logs verify the presence of DNAPL in the vicinity of three
boreholes which form a cross section from the perimeter of the basin to its
center. Cross borehole ERT images the changes in formation electrical
properties due to the removal of DNAPL, extending the understanding of DNAPL
removal between the boreholes. During pumping, electrical resistivities
decreased, possibly directly caused by the reduction in DNAPL. During
ground-water pumping, water with relatively low resistivity replaces some of
the DNAPL pockets as the highly insulating DNAPL is removed. The results
suggest that, as DNAPL is pumped from a nearby well, product slowly drains
along the top of an aquitard and into the pump well, where it collects.
Monitoring Soil Phytoremediation by a Portable Chlorophyll
Fluorometer
Richter, P.I. (Dept. of Atomic Physics, Technical Univ. of
Budapest, Budapest, Hungary); A. Barocsi; Z. Csintalan (Dept. of Botany and
Plant Physiology, Agricultural Univ. of Gödöllo, Gödöllo,
Hungary); M.J. Kuperberg (Center for Biomedical and Toxicological Research,
Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL); J. Szdzuj (Inst. for Ecology of
Industrial Areas, Katowice, Poland).
Field Analytical Chemistry &
Technology, Vol 2 No 4, p 241-249, 1998
During a phytoremediation technology field experiment, measurement
of chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics was carried out to monitor
heavy-metal uptake from contaminated soil. A portable chlorophyll fluorometer
was used to identify the most applicable parameter (Rfd = fluorescence decay)
to monitor the process. Good correlation was demonstrated between this
parameter and accumulated heavy-metal concentration. The authors discuss
applying the monitoring technique for remedial technology optimization.
Monitoring Volatile Organic Compounds in Ambient Air Inside and
Outside Buildings with the Use of a Radio-Frequency-Based Ion-Mobility Analyzer
with a Micromachined Drift Tube
Eiceman, G.A. (Dept. of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces); E.G. Nazarov; B. Tadjikov;
R.A. Miller (Charles Stark Draper Lab., Cambridge, MA).
Field Analytical
Chemistry & Technology, Vol 4 No 6, p 297-308, 2000
A radio-frequency-based ion-mobility analyzer with a micromachined
drift tube was operated continuously to monitor volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) in ambient air inside a building and in an open space near a
high-traffic area. Without enrichment or pre-separation, air was drawn directly
through the analyzer, which was regulated to 35·C. The ion source was a
photo-discharge lamp at 10.6 eV, providing a preliminary level of selectivity
in response to chemicals with low ionization potentials. The compensation
voltage was scanned continuously from -40 to +20 V at rates of 60 V/s,
providing profiles of ions obtained from VOCs in air. Solvents were detected at
1-ppm levels as fugitive emissions from other experiments under way in the
laboratory from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Multidimensional Spatial Modeling of the May Day Mine Waste
Pile, Silverton, CO
Yager, D.B.; M.R. Stanton, U.S. Geological Survey,
Denver, CO.
Proceedings from the Fifth International Conference on Acid
Rock Drainage (ICARD 2000), 21-24 May 2000, Denver, Colorado.
Society for
Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Littleton, CO. Vol I, p
297-301, 2000
Integration and synthesis of mine-site topography and geophysical
and geochemical data yields both two-dimensional and three-dimensional
perspective models for the May Day mine located in the Cement Creek drainage
area near Silverton, Colorado. Via induced polarization, geophysical data are
spatially registered with geochemical data acquired from drill hole cuttings
that are contoured in three-dimensional space, thereby permitting determination
of the most metalliferous and sulfur-rich zones of a waste pile. This spatial
modeling application was developed to be a visually intuitive tool to aid in
mine waste reclamation.
New Horizons: Explosive Detection in Soil Extracts with a
Fiber-Optic Biosensor
Shriver-Lake, L.C. (Center for Bio/Molecular
Science and Engineering, Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC); Charles H.
Patterson (George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA); Saskia K. van Bergen.
Field
Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 4 No 5, p 239-245, 2000
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) fiber-optic biosensor, which
has been demonstrated for the on-site detection of explosives in ground water,
can also detect explosives in soil extracts. Explosives were removed from
contaminated soil with a 3-minute acetone extraction. The extract was mixed
with buffer containing a fluorescent explosive analog and exposed to the
antibody-coated optical probes. A decrease in the fluorescence signal
proportional to the explosive concentration was observed in the presence of
either TNT or RDX. Analysis on four optical probes was completed in less than
20 minutes. The researchers obtained detection limits of 0.5 mg/kg (0.1 mg/l)
of TNT and RDX in soil acetone extracts.
New Optical Detection Techniques for Chemical Sensors
Mendes, S.B. (Optical Sciences Ctr., Univ. of Arizona); S. Honkanen; M.
Fallahi; N. Peyghambarian.
Methods for Ultrasensitive Detection.
Proceedings of SPIE-International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol
3270, p 42-49, 1998
Three novel optical approaches are applied to the development of
biological and chemical sensors. An absorbance spectroscopic technique
developed on a waveguide platform features a sensitivity enhancement of four
orders of magnitude compared to the conventional transmission measurements of
ultra-thin films. A waveguide Zeeman interferometric technique, based on the
relative phase change between the TE and TM waveguide modes, is applied as a
sensor platform. An external-cavity laser, a semiconductor laser combined with
a single mode optical fiber and a Bragg grating reflector, has been built to
work as an active sensor where the analyte species are incorporated inside the
resonant cavity to increase sensitivity.
New Technology Solves Mystery of What Is Inside Cylinders
Buried During the 1950s
INEEL Reporter, p 4-5, Oct/Nov 2000
Members of the team removing more than 50 gas cylinders buried
near the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center used INEEL’s
innovative Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy system (PINS) to safely
verify the contents of four steel cylinders buried at the site during the
1950s.
The beauty of the PINS device is that it enables people to
determine what is inside a container from the outside. The cylinders contain
extremely reactive and corrosive hydrogen flouride gas, and now workers will
know the appropriate precautions to take when they dig up the cylinders before
repackaging or neutralizing the gas. PINS had been used previously to identify
materials within old munitions ranging from nerve gases to explosives without
breaching shells or containers. It took 200 seconds for PINS to identify the
hydrogen flouride. The technology works by shooting a beam of neutrons into the
container. The neutrons bounce into the elements within, and this interaction
produces gamma rays. The gamma rays passing back out are then detected by a
high-purity germanium spectrometer. Each chemical element emits a
characteristic gamma-ray energy/intensity pattern. Field analysts carry a
“library” of patterns and use this library to identify chemicals
within. The incident marked the first use of PINS for an environmental
application at any DOE facility. For more information, please visit
http://www.inel.gov/reporter/
On Suitability of Using ST1000 Spectrometer for Remote Sensing
Purposes
Kutser, Tiit, Estonian Marine Inst., Tallinn, Estonia.
The
Optics Ground Truth of the Finnish SALMON Experiment 1997-1998 (Herlevi, Antti,
ed.).
University of Helsinki. Report Series in Geophysics, No 41, p 49-54,
1999
SALMON (SAtellite remote sensing for Lake MONitoring) is an
EU/Environment program performed in 1997-1999. The partners are from Italy,
Finland and Sweden. The main objective is to assess the potential of remote
sensing methods and instrumentation in the monitoring of European lake waters.
The project was designed on the grounds of co-operative interaction between
limnologists and remote sensing scientists. The objective has been achieved by
finding out the needs of end-users and evaluating instrument capability and
measurement methods to fill those needs. An improvement is required on
processing methods for optical remote sensing data as well as a definition of
an optimal space-borne sensor for lake monitoring. SALMON field campaigns
include underwater, surface, and airborne measurements with different
instruments.
Open Cast Mining and Its Impact to the Environment--Case Study
From Neyveli Lignite Mining Area, Tamilnadu, India, Using Remote Sensing
Techniques and Ground Data
Ramanathan, A.; S. Chidhambaram; P. Anandan;
K. Srenivasamoorthy; N. Ganesan, Dept. of Geology, Annamalai Univ.,
Annamalainagar, India.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth International
Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000, Las Vegas,
NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
Monitoring the quality of surface water in and around mining areas
in space and time is used to assess the environmental status. Remote sensing
data and GIS techniques along with ground truth verification were used to
understand and monitor the environmental changes in the land and water bodies
due to the impact of open cast lignite mining activity in Neyveli region, about
450 square km. Surface waters are contaminated by the mine waters and
agricultural wastes and have been affected by dissolved Cl, SO4, Na, Mg, F,
H4SiO4, PO4, and NO3. The water-soluble ions in the soils are also higher and
in excessive concentrations, contaminating the surface waters and shallow
ground waters. IRS IA and IC/ID( geocoded and digital) data for 1989 and 1998
were purchased from NRSA in Hyderabad were analyzed using ERDAS imagine 8.2 a
raster based GIS package. Thematic maps were prepared and scanned using UMAX
ASTRA 1220S scanner and digitized. The final maps were then digitized and
integrated with the earlier generated thematic information using MAPINFO-GIS
version 5. Geological, geomorphological, soil, and drainage pattern maps were
generated and the arial extent was delineated and determined. Land use map/land
cover maps and land cover change maps were prepared. A decrease in crop area
was disclosed and attributed to a decrease in water supply and an expansion of
mining activity. The Mine I area had expanded from 0.78% to 1.15% and Mine Ii
from 0.22% to 0.75%. The mine dump sites increased from .29% to .4% (site I)
and 0.36% to 0.51% (site II).
Optical Sensing Systems Based on Biomolecular Recognition of
Recombinant Proteins
Salins, L.L.E. (Univ. of Kentucky); V.
Schauer-Vukasinovic; S. Daunert.
Methods for Ultrasensitive
Detection.
Proceedings of SPIE-International Society for Optical
Engineering, Vol 3270, p 16-24, 1998
Site-directed mutagenesis and site-specific fluorescent labeling
of proteins can be used to design reagentless fluorescent molecular senors. The
phosphate binding protein (PBP) and calmodulin (CaM) bind to phosphate and
calcium in a highly specific manner. These ions induce a hinge motion in the
proteins, and the resultant conformational change constitutes the basis of the
sensor development. By labeling each protein at a specific site with
environment-sensitive fluorescent probes, these conformational changes can be
monitored and related to the amount of analyte ion present. This paper
describes how highly sensitive and selective sensing systems for phosphate and
calcium were obtained using this approach.
Passive FTIR Remote Sensing of Smokestack Emissions
Chaffin, C.T., Jr.; T.L. Marshall; N.C. Chaffin, AeroSurvey, Inc.,
Manhattan, KS.
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 3 No 2, p
111-115, 1999
Quantitative chemical analysis of heated plumes combined with
passive FT-IR remote sensing techniques can be used to monitor stack emissions.
The authors analyzed field spectra of a power plant plume in terms of sulfur
dioxide concentration and compared the results to known concentration values
obtained from continuous emission monitors within the stack.
Perchlorate Sensor Development: FY01 RARE Project
U.S.
EPA Region 9 Regional Science Council, 2001
Perchlorate is a contaminant showing up at an increasing number of
sites. Richard Russell (RPM) and Joe Eidelberg (QA) proposed a project to
develop a field sensor for detecting perchlorate in ground water and soil in
support of their cleanup work at Edwards Air Force Base. An ORD sponsor has
been identified; Dr. Elizabeth Hedrick of the National Exposure Research
Laboratory in Cincinnati, an analytical chemist, has worked on several EPA
methods development projects, and is interested in perchlorate and the issues
of perchlorate contamination. Bobbye Smith, the Regional Science Liaison, will
coordinate with Dr. Hedrick and provide periodic status updates. Region 9's
Regional Science Council selected the project to be funded by RARE (Regional
Applied Research Effort) for FY01. The project period should be less than one
year.
Performance Evaluation of the Quick Test®, a Colorimetric
Field Method for the Determination of Pentachlorophenol in Soil
Chen,
D. (Envirol, Inc., North Logan, UT); D. Shattuck; M. Hines (Civil and
Environmental Engineering Dept. and Utah Water Research Lab., Utah State Univ.,
Logan); J. McLean.
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 2 No 1,
p 29-37, 1998
Quick Test®, a novel colorimetric-based field test kit for the
quantitation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in soil, has been developed by Envirol
Inc., of North Logan, Utah. The kit differs from commercially available
immunoassay field tests for PCP in that it is based on a photochemically
induced oxidation-reduction reaction between PCP and a reagent that produces
coloration proportional to concentration. A method detection limit of 1.5 mg/kg
was achieved with a dynamic range up to 100 mg/kg, making this procedure of
practical use at many PCP-contaminated sites. Accuracy and precision for the
analysis of PCP in soils were comparable to laboratory standard methods that
involve Soxhlet extractions and chromatographic quantitation.
Performance of Commercially Available Immunoassay-Based Field
Test Kits for Petroleum Fuel Hydrocarbons in Soil
Waters, L.C. (Oak
Ridge National Lab., Oak Ridge, TN); M.A. Palausky; R.W. Counts; R.A. Jenkins.
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 1 No 4, p 135-144, 1997
The researchers studied the performance of two immunoassay-based
test kits for the analysis of petroleum fuel hydrocarbons in soil. One kit was
used in a semiquantitative format, the other in a quantitative format. The
samples analyzed were either solvent or soil spiked with either gasoline or a
mixture of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the three isomers of xylene
(BTEX). Of the 50 assays made with the semiquantitative test, 5 were false
positives and 1 was a false negative. A soil matrix effect was observed that
could account for false-positive results.
Probabilistic Method For Estimating Monitoring Point Density
For Containment System Leak Detection
Oss, R.R. (U.S. EPA); B.E. Vieux
(Univ. of Oklahoma).
Ground Water, Vol 38 No 4, p 533-540, Jan 2000
This paper presents a probabilistic method for determining the
minimum number of monitoring points needed to identify the hydraulic signature
of leakage from a containment system. The method is based on the theory of
geometric probability and is demonstrated using three-dimensional ground water
flow modeling results derived from VISUAL MODFLOW, MODRISI, and IDRISI.
Quantitative Analysis of Benzene, Toluene, and M-Xylene with
the Use of a UV-Ion Mobility Spectrometer
Sielemann, St. (Institut
für Spektrochemie und Angewandte Spektroskopie (ISAS), Dortmund, Germany);
J.I. Baumbach; H. Schmidt; P. Pilzecker (G.A.S. (Gesellschaft für
Analytische Sensorsysteme mbH), Dortmund, Germany).
Field Analytical
Chemistry & Technology, Vol 4 No 4, p 157-169, 2000
An ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) equipped with a 10.6 eV
low-pressure gas-discharge lamp usually used in photoionization detectors for
gas chromatographic applications was developed for the continuous detection of
benzene, toluene, and m-xylene. A customized IMS with a doubled drift tube
length was built to improve the resolution of the IMS for single substances.
The responses of both IMS (drift tube lengths of 6 and 12 cm) to selected
compounds were compared. Combining multi-capillary columns with IMS can
significantly increase the scope of application of IMS for environmental
monitoring.
A Quantitative Infrared Database for Remote Sensing
Chu, P.; G. Rhoderick; P. Johnson; F. Guenther, Analytical Chemistry
Div., NIST, Gaithersburg, MD.
PITTCON 2000, Abstracts, p 2326, 2000
Recent advances of optical-based technologies such as
open-path Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and light detection
and ranging (LIDAR) have encouraged the use of these optical methods for a
variety of field measurements. Compared to traditional point source monitoring
techniques, optical methods are more easily adapted to in situ and real-time
monitoring applications such as detecting and quantifying fugitive emissions
from industrial processing plants, hazardous waste sites, municipal landfills,
and chemical plants. Quantitative optical measurements are based on the
molecular absorption coefficients, and NIST primary gas standards provide a
critical component needed to verify that these emerging technologies can be
used to make accurate quantitative measurements. NIST has an on-going program
to develop a quality-assured quantitative database of infrared spectra,
providing reference data to support open-path Fourier transform infrared
(FT-IR) measurements, such as those described in EPA Method TO-16. For further
information, see
http://www.cstl.nist.gov/nist839/839.03/database.html
Rapid Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Subsurface
by Membrane Introduction into a Direct Sampling Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometer
Costanza, J. (Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme,
CA); W.M. Davis (Environmental Lab., Waterways Experiment Station, U.S. Army
Engineers, Vicksburg, MI).
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol
4 No 5, p 246-254, 2000
This paper describes the demonstration of a direct-push sensor
that can quantify VOC contamination in the subsurface in real time. This
device, which is part of the Triservice Site Characterization and Analysis
Penetrometer System (SCAPS), consists of a membrane interface probe (MIP)
manufactured by Geoprobe Systems coupled to a direct sampling ion-trap mass
spectrometer (ITMS). The sensor was shown to rapidly collect and analyze
samples from the subsurface, regardless of matrix. Some of the demonstrations
of the devise have indicated that the calibration method used in this work
introduced a bias compared to EPA methods.
Rapid In Situ Collection and Analysis of Semivolatile Organics
by Thermal Extraction Cone Penetrometry Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry
Gorshteyn, Alexander; Albert Robbat Jr., Dept. of
Chemistry, Center for Field Analytical Studies & Technology, Tufts Univ.,
Medford, MA.
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 4 No 2-3, p
85-92, 2000
A thermal extraction cone penetrometer (TECP) has been developed
to detect subsurface contaminants in situ without bringing soil to the surface
or into a collection chamber. Sample collection and analysis can be
accomplished in ~20 min for the full range of U.S. EPA target compounds when
TECP is combined with thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
The paper contains the results of 99 volatile and semivolatile organics
analyzed from the same TECP extracted soil in 16 and 40 minutes. The total ion
and reconstructed ion current chromatograms are shown for chlorinated solvents
and gasoline constituents from a hazardous waste site. Data compared favorably
against traditional purge and trap GC/MS.
Rapid-Response Continuous Emissions Monitor for Metals in Stack
Gases
Coleman, Geoffrey N. (Thermo Elemental, Franklin MA); Michael D.
Seltzer (Chemistry and Materials Branch, Naval Air Warfare Center - Weapons
Division, China Lake CA).
PITTCON 2000, Abstracts, p 359, 2000
This essentially turnkey instrument system for continuous
monitoring of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) metals in stack gases is based on
an axially-viewed argon ICP, which provides for the determination of the 14
hazardous air pollutant elements, as well as many other elements of process
monitoring interest. One development challenge is the introduction of air into
an argon ICP at a rate consistent with sensitivity and torch longevity
requirements. Another is sample collection and transport from both dry stacks,
where pollution control consists essentially of only a bag house and
temperatures may reach 400F, and wet stacks, where moisture content can be 30
to 40% at temperatures of 200 F. The instrument system has been tested and
approved for emissions monitoring at two incinerator sites that represent the
extremes in stack types. Limits of detection for the 14 HAP metals are in the
0.1 - 5 ~g/dscm range. QCs are automatically checked approximately every eight
hours (in 24-hour operation), with demonstrated calibration stability of more
than two weeks. Calibration and QC checks are fully automated and executed at
user-selectable intervals in this turnkey instrument system.
A Real-Time Fiber-Optic LIBS Probe for the In Situ Delineation
of Metals in Soils
Theriault, G.A.; S. Bodensteiner; S.H. Lieberman,
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, CA.
Field Analytical
Chemistry & Technology, Vol 2 No 2, p 117-125, 1998
This paper presents the results of detection-limit determination
and field deployment of the SCAPS fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown
spectroscopy (LIBS) cone penetrometer probe, with attention to probe design and
issues concerning sample presentation and in situ matrix effects. Measurements
are made by a scanning optical system through a sapphire window in the probe,
which produces detection limits that are at or below the EPA's site screening
levels for Pb, Cd, and Cr in sand.
Real-Time Monitoring of BTEX in Air Via Ambient-Pressure
MPI
Swenson, O.F. (North Dakota State Univ.); J.P. Carriere; H.
Isensee; G.D. Gillispie (Dakota Technologies, Inc.); W.F. Cooper; M.A. Dvorak.
Methods for Ultrasensitive Detection.
Proceedings of
SPIE-International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol 3270, p 216-225, 1998
The authors have begun to field test a very sensitive method for
real-time measurements of single-ring aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air.
Their study focuses on the efficient 1 + 1 resonance enhanced multiphoton
ionization (REMPI) of the BTEX species in the narrow region between 266 and 267
nm. An optical parametric oscillator system generating 266.7 nm, a REMPI cell,
and digital oscilloscope detector are mounted on a breadboard attached to a
small cart. After several field tests, the apparatus was used to compare the
performance of the REMPI detector and a conventional photoionization detector
as a BTEX mixture was eluted by gas chromatography. The monitoring method is
expected to be applicable to onsite analysis of combustion and manufacturing
processes, soil gas and water headspace monitoring, and fuel leak detection.
Remote Sensing for Site Characterization
Kuehn,
Friedrich; Bernhard Hoerig; Trude King; Douglas Peters (eds.).
Springer,
New York. ISBN: 3-540-63469-X. 256 pp, 2000
This volume of the Methods in Environmental Geology series
describes the feasibility of aircraft- and satellite-based methods of revealing
environmental-geological problems. The text maintains a balance between
explanations of the methodological/technical side and presentations of case
studies from North America and Germany. The studies show how the respective
territorial conditions lead to distinct methodological approaches. The
dissimilarities in population density alone and often considerable differences
in distances between waste disposal areas, settlements, and areas of protected
ground water necessitate a diversified approach.
Remotely-Sensed Multispectral Reflectance Variations in Acidic
Versus Near-Neutral Contaminated Coal Mine Drainage in Pennsylvania
Robbins, E.I. (U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA); G.L. Nord, Jr.;
J.E. Anderson (Virginia Commonwealth Univ., Richmond, VA); C.A. Cravotta III
(U.S. Geological Survey, Lemoyne, PA); E.T. Slonecker (U.S. EPA, Reston, VA).
Fifth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage (ICARD 2000), 21-24
May 2000, Denver, Colorado.
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and
Exploration, Inc. (SME), Littleton, CO. Vol II, p 1551-559, 2000
Remote sensing is being tested for its ability to identify the
severity of impact on streams that are subjected to contaminated mine drainage
(CMD) in the Southern Anthracite Coalfield of Pennsylvania. Airborne digital
multispectral video images of acidic and near-neutral CMD are being compared
with field spectra, water chemistry, mineralogy, and microbiology. Spectral
differences in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum are caused by
the presence of schwertmannite in the acidic precipitates and ferrihydrite in
the near-neutral precipitates. The acidic CMD averages 1,500 mg/L sulfate and
has bacteria coated with schwertmannite; the near-neutral CMD averages 87 mg/L
sulfate and has bacteria coated with ferrihydrite.
Sampling Strategy for the Rapid Screening of Mine-Waste Dumps
on Abandoned Mine Lands
Smith, K.S. (U.S. Geological Survey, Denver,
CO); C.A. Ramsey (EnviroStat, Inc., Ft. Collins, CO); P.L. Hageman (U.S.
Geological Survey, Denver, CO).
Proceedings from the Fifth International
Conference on Acid Rock Drainage (ICARD 2000), 21-24 May 2000, Denver,
Colorado.
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME),
Littleton, CO. Vol II, p 1453-1461, 2000
A statistically based strategy for sampling the surficial material
of mine-waste dumps for use in screening and prioritizing historic dumps on
abandoned mine lands was developed. This sampling strategy entails the
collection of a representative composite sample from individual dumps and
allows for regional or watershed-based assessments. One 30-increment
dump-composite sample collected using this sampling strategy contains as much
information, relative to average value, as 30 individual grab samples at 1/30
of the analytical cost.
Refraction Tomography over a Buried Waste Disposal Site
Lanz, E; Maurer, H; Green, A.G.
Geophysics, Vol 63 No 4, p 1414-1433,
31 Jul 1998
The authors have developed a surface 2-D tomographic refraction
scheme that is based on a fast finite-difference eikonal solver and an
inversion method that incorporates appropriate damping and smoothing
constraints. High-quality seismic data were collected along five profiles that
crossed adjacent landfills in northern Switzerland and two that sampled
undisturbed natural sediments. Seismic waves generated from multiple shots were
recorded on large numbers of closely spaced receivers during quiet evening
periods. Reliability of the resultant velocity tomograms was estimated on the
basis of ray diagrams, plots of synthetic and observed travel times, travel
time residual analyses, comparisons of coincident velocity-depth profiles
computed from intersecting profiles, inversions with diverse input models, and
quantitative error analyses using a bootstrap technique. Although results have
demonstrated that the tomographic refraction scheme may be an efficient and
cost-effective means of studying the very shallow subsurface (<20 m depth),
complementary geological and other geophysical data were required to
discriminate between velocity anomalies attributed to the landfills and those
attributed to natural variations in the near-surface geology.
Robowell: An Automated Process for Monitoring Ground Water
Quality Using Established Sampling Protocols
Granato, G.E.; K.P. Smith.
Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, Vol 19 No 4, p 81-89, Fall 1999
Robowell, a patented automated ground-water monitoring technology
has been developed and tested by the USGS. Since December 1994, six prototype
monitoring units have sampled water during all four seasons of the year under
various hydrogeologic conditions, well designs, and geochemical environments.
The automated process, the equipment used to implement the prototype systems,
and results of a quality-assurance and quality-control (QA/QC) program are
described from three study sites. Project publications and information about
technology transfer opportunities are available on the internet. For more
information, please visit http://ma.water.usgs.gov/automon/.
A Simple Field Leach Test for Rapid Screening and Qualitative
Characterization of Mine Waste Dump Material on Abandoned Mine Lands
Hageman, P.L.; P.H. Briggs, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO.
Proceedings from the Fifth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage
(ICARD 2000), 21-24 May 2000, Denver, Colorado.
Society for Mining,
Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Littleton, CO. Vol II, p 1463-1475,
2000
An important tool for use in the geochemical assessment of
abandoned mine-waste piles is a leach procedure that can be done easily in the
field and used for onsite screening of historic mine-waste material. A simple
field leach test was developed that is an effective indicator of waste pile
geochemistry and can be used to establish the relative geochemical fingerprint
for a given pile. This simple procedure also provides indication of the
potential chemical composition of run-off from the weathered surface of these
piles. As part of developing this technique, a comparative study was carried
out on eight mine-waste composite samples from different deposit types. Splits
of all eight composites were leached using the field leach test procedure and a
modified version of EPA Method 1312 (SPLP). It was found that the field leach
test consistently provides relative indication of leachate geochemical trends
comparable to leachate data derived from the more regulated, time consuming,
and laborious EPA Method 1312 (SLPL). For more information, please visit
http://crustal.usgs.gov/minewaste/pdfs/hageman1.pdf
Simultaneous Inversion of Airborne Electromagnetic Data for
Resistivity and Magnetic Permeability
Beard, L.P. ; Nyquist, J.E.
Geophysics, Vol 63 No 5, p 1556-1564, 30 Sep 1998
Layered-earth inversion algorithms that incorporate magnetic
permeability as an additional inversion parameter may improve resistivity
estimates. The authors demonstrate this improvement using data collected over
hazardous waste sites near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Using resistivity inversion
without magnetic permeability, the waste sites are almost invisible to the
sensors. When magnetic permeability is included as an inversion parameter, the
sites are detected, both by improved resistivity estimates and by estimated
magnetic permeability.
A Slope-Ratio Method for Quantitative Open-Path FTIR
Ingling, L. (Chemistry Dept., Montgomery College, Rockville, MD); T.L.
Isenhour (Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne Univ.,
Pittsburgh, PA).
Field Analytical Chemistry & Technology, Vol 4 No 2-3,
p 127-133, 2000
A quantitative method, the slope-ratio method (SRM), has been
developed for measuring ambient background sources of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). The procedure has been successfully used for VOCs such as
methanol, acetone, and t-butyl ethyl ether, and shows promise in measuring
methane under laboratory conditions.
Some Geophysical Methods for Tailings/ Mine Waste Work
Campbell, D.L.; R.J. Horton; R.J. Bisdorf; D.L. Fey; M.H. Powers; D.V.
Fitterman.
Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Tailings
and Mine Waste '99, 24-27 January 1999, Fort Collins, Colorado.
A.A.
Balkema, Rotterdam. p 35-43, 1999
Abstract not available.
Speciation of Natural Mercury Mine Wastes and Other
Mercury-Bearing Materials Using X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS)
Spectroscopy [abstr.]
Kim, Christopher S. (Dept. of Geological &
Environmental Sciences, Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA); G.E. Brown, Jr.; N.S.
Bloom; J.J. Rytuba.
Geological Society of America, 2000 Annual Meeting,
9-18 November 2000, Reno, NV.
Geological Society of America, Abstracts with
Programs, Vol 32 No 7, 2000
Abstract not available.
Surface Analysis of Particles in Mine Tailings by
Time-of-Flight Laser-Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TOF-LIMS)
Martin,
C.J. (AMTEL, London, Ontario); R.A. Al (Univ. of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario);
L.J. Cabri (CANMET/MMSL, Ottawa, Ontario).
Environmental Geology, Vol 32 No
2, p 107-113, 1997
Time-of-flight laser-ionization mass spectrometry was applied to
study the chemical composition of mineral particle surfaces in a sulphide-rich
mine tailings impoundment. This surface-sensitive technique provides chemical
information from surfaces of irregularly shaped mineral particles (both
conductive and insulators) less than 100 mm in diameter, which are considered
to be representative of particle surface coatings in the tailings pile (after
drying). The speed of analysis (1 minute), small beam diameter (2-4
mm), surface sensitivity (2-10 nm),
trace-element sensitivity, and capability to analyze rough surfaces make this
method useful as a complement to studies of pore-water geochemistry and
tailings mineralogy. The authors describe a study of the behavior of Pb and As
in the Kidd Creek tailings dam near Timmins, Ontario, Canada, using a
combination of surface analyses and pore-water geochemical data.
Surface Modified ATR FTIR Sensor Used to Detect, Identify, and
Quantify Low Concentrations of Aqueous Anions
Hebert, G.N.; M.A. Odom;
S.H. Strauss, Dept. of Chemistry, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO.
PITTCON 2000, Abstracts, p 2158, 2000
ATR FTIR sensors have been developed that can detect, identify,
and quantify aqueous IR active anions at low concentrations. The ability to
detect and quantify aqueous anions is important for ground- and surface-water
testing. Commercially available silicon ATR crystals have been surface modified
with highly selective thin films that enhance the sensitivity of the sensor
10,000 times. Modifications of the crystal surface with organometallic
ion-exchange complexes were achieved through evaporative processes to form
films of sub-micron thickness. The capability of the surface modified ATR FTIR
sensor to identify the analyte by its unique IR spectrum enabled the
elimination of false positive responses. Rapid quantification (Le. less
than 10 minutes) has been achieved of target analytes such as cyanide,
perchlorate, and fluorinated surfactants. Selectivity for the analyte was
observed in the presence of at least 100 times excess of a competitor anion.
Detection of 10 muM cyanide in a 1 M sodium chloride solution demonstrates both
the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor.
Tests of Ground Penetrating Radar and Induced Polarization for
Mapping Fluvial Mine Tailings on the Floor of Coeur d'Alene River, Idaho
Campbell, D.L.; J.C. Wynn; S.E. Box; A.A. Bookstrom; R.J. Horton.
Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to
Engineering and Environmental Problems, 23-27 March 1997, Reno, Nevada, p
81-88, 1997
Abstract not available.
Tissue-Level Biomarkers in Sentinel Slugs as Cost-Effective
Tools to Assess Metal Pollution in Soils
Marigomez, I.; M.
Kortabitarte; G.B.J. Dussart.
Archives of Environmental Contamination &
Toxicology, Vol 34 No 2, p 167-176, 1998
Slugs, which are sensitive to metal pollution, might be invaluable
instruments for biological assessment of soil pollution. Slugs were collected
from an abandoned copper mine on a mountain top, from a site 7 km away from the
mine at the bottom of the mountain, and from a clean site. Cd, Cu, and Zn
concentrations were measured in the slugs by means of atomic absorption
spectrophotometry (AAS). The digestive gland indicated significant differences
in tissue metal levels between samples from different sites. The researchers
conclude that exposure and effect biomarkers recorded in sentinel slugs could
be sensitive, quick, and cheap indices of metal pollution in soils.
Tools for the Rapid Screening and Characterization of
Historical Metal-Mining Waste Dumps
Smith, K.S.; P.H. Briggs; D.L.
Campbell; C.J. Castle; G.A. Desborough; R.G. Eppinger III; D.V. Fitterman; P.L.
Hageman; R.W. Leinz; G.P. Meeker; M.R. Stanton; S.J. Sutley; G.A. Swayze; D.B.
Yager.
Proceedings of the 2000 Billings Land Reclamation Symposium, 20-24
March 2000, Billings, Montana.
Montana State University, Bozeman.
Reclamation Research Unit Publication No. 00-01 (CD-ROM), p 435-442, 2000
The U.S. Geological Survey Mine Waste Characterization Project has
taken a multidisciplinary approach to assemble, develop, and refine methods and
tools for characterizing and screening weathered solid-mine wastes. Researchers
from a variety of disciplines, including geophysics, geochemistry, analytical
chemistry, geology, mineralogy, geomicrobiology, remote sensing, spatial
modeling, and aquatic toxicology, have worked together at several metal mining
waste sites to develop an integrated "tool kit" for the rapid screening and
characterization of historical mine-waste sites. This paper provides a brief
overview of some of these tools. For more information, please visit
http://crustal.usgs.gov/minewaste/pdfs/ksmith_billings.pdf
The Use of Bioassays and Toxicity Identification Evaluation
(TIE) Procedures to Assess Recovery and Effectiveness of Remedial Activities in
a Mine Drainage-Impacted Stream System
Deanovic, L.; V.M. Connor; A.W.
Knight; K.J. Maier.
Archives of Environmental Contamination &
Toxicology, Vol 36 No 1, p 21-27, 1999
Water samples were collected at several sites in Dolly and Little
Grizzly Creeks to assess the effectiveness of remedial efforts to decrease
concentrations of toxic metals. Untreated samples and samples passed through
ion exchange columns, which remove cationic metals, were compared in
side-by-side bioassays using Pimephales promelas, Ceriodaphnia
dubia, and Selenastrum capricornutum. Samples were analyzed for
total and dissolved copper, cadmium, zinc, and iron. Copper was the element
responsible for toxicity. Toxicity was detected in the mine discharge and
immediately downstream from the tailings where dissolved copper concentrations
were 250 mg/L and 415
mg/L, respectively.
Toxicity decreased at downstream sites but extended at least 6.4 km downstream.
Improvement in bioassay performance by the treated waters verified metal
toxicity. The results indicate that the mine effluent and tailings pile
currently have the heaviest impact on Dolly and Little Grizzly Creeks and
should be given the highest priority in future remedial programs.
Use of LIF for Real-Time In-Situ Mixed NAPL Source Zone
Detection
Kram, Mark L.; Stephen H. Lieberman; Jerry Fee; Arturo A.
Keller.
Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, Vol 21 No 1, p 67-76,
Winter 2001
In an area where plating shop was temporarily stored, the site
characterization and analysis cone penetrometer system (SCAPS), equipped with
real-time fluorophore detection capabilities, was used to delineate subsurface
contaminant releases. The investigators advanced the SCAPS laser-induced
fluorescence (LIF) sensor to depths beneath the water table of the principal
water-bearing zone, approximately six feet below ground surface (bgs) across
the site. Fluorescence, attributed to fuel compounds commingled with
chlorinated solvents, was observed at depths ranging from four to 11.5 feet
bgs. The presence of chlorinated solvents was confirmed, indicating that the
SCAPS fluorophore detection system is capable of indirectly delineating vadose
zone and subaqueous chlorinated solvents at contaminant release sites. This
paper represents the first documented account of the successful application of
LIF to identify a mixed DNAPL/LNAPL source zone.
The Use of an Automated Liquid Handling System with a Collision
Cell ICP-MS for Interference Removal in Elemental Speciation
Keenan,
Fergus, Thermo Elemental, Franklin, MA.
PITTCON 2000, Abstracts, p 364,
2000
The integrated liquid handling system for elemental speciation
analysis consists of two switching valves and a pair of two-channel
independently controlled variable speed peristaltic pumps combined with a dual
6-way pneumatic switching valve. ICP-MS software operating under a Windows
NT/Windows 2000 environment controls the system. Applications include
microdilution techniques (online dilution, on-line addition of internal
standards, on-line standard additions) continuous and segmented flow hydride
generation, low-pressure chelation chromatography, and rapid sample throughput
applications. Initial investigations using automated SPC with ICP-MS for
chromium speciation have recently been reported. Limiting factors of this
ICP-MS method are the polyatomic species 52ARC and 53ARC, which can interfere
with low-level detection of the two most abundant chromium isotopes. The
researchers discuss the use of a collision cell equipped ICP-MS to remove the
polyatomic argon carbide species for the analysis of chromium species.
Use of Remote Sensing to Track an Ecological Nightmare in
Kazakhstan Between 1994 and 2000
Rauschkolb, J.W.; N. Amanova, San
Diego State Univ., San Diego, CA.
Proceedings of the Fourteenth
International Conference on Applied Geologic Remote Sensing, 6-8 November 2000,
Las Vegas, NV.
Veridian ERIM International Conferences, Ann Arbor, MI. 2000
This project utilizes SIR-C radar and Landsat 5 and 7 Thematic
Mapper (TM) remote sensing imagery to track the shoreline of an artificial lake
in Kazakhstan that was created out of 45.88 million tons of toxic waste
material. In 1994, the city of Aqtau halted the pumping of all liquid waste
into the neighboring Koshkar-Ata Lake. Since 1994, the artificial lake has
decreased in size due to evaporation. By 1999, more than 10 square km of solid
toxic waste material was exposed to the air, polluting the city of Aqtau with
toxic wind blown dust and silt particles.
Using Electromagnetic Induction Techniques to Characterize
Groundwater Containing High Chloride
Bean, D.M.; W.V. Pipes.
Proceeding of the Eleventh National Outdoor Action Conference &
Exposition, 1-3 April 1997. National Ground Water Assoc., Westerville, OH. p
443-457, 1997
Time-domain electromagnetic induction and borehole electromagnetic
induction surveys were used to determine the vertical and lateral extent of
high conductivity ground water resulting from the release of saline brines to
the subsurface. The indirect geophysical techniques can be calibrated with a
limited number of ground-water samples to provide an accurate measure of
chloride distribution in ground water. The authors report the costs of
conducting these surveys.
Using GIS and Uranium Mining History to Identify Trace Element
'Hotspots' within a South Texas Watershed [abstr.]
Parker, Ronald L.; Bruce
E. Herbert, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A & M Univ., College
Station, TX.
Geological Society of America, 2000 Annual Meeting, 9-18
November 2000, Reno, NV.
Geological Society of America, Abstracts with
Programs, Vol 32 No 7, 2000
Abstract not available.
Using Imaging Spectroscopy to Map Acidic Mine Waste
Swayze, G.A.; K.S. Smith; R.N. Clark; S.J. Sutley; R.M. Pearson; J.S.
Vance; P.L. Hageman; P.H. Briggs; A.L. Meier; M.J. Singleton; S. Roth.
Environmental Science & Technology, Vol 34, p 47-54, 2000
The process of pyrite oxidation at the surface of mine waste may
produce acidic water that is gradually neutralized as it drains away from the
waste, depositing different Fe-bearing secondary minerals in roughly concentric
zones that emanate from mine-waste piles. These Fe-bearing minerals are
indicators of the geochemical conditions under which they form. Because each of
these Fe-bearing secondary minerals is spectrally unique, airborne and orbital
imaging spectrometers can be used to map these mineral zones. In this way,
imaging spectroscopy can be used to rapidly screen entire mining districts for
potential sources of surface acid drainage and to detect acid-producing
minerals in mine waste or unmined rock outcrops. Spectral data from the AVIRIS
instrument were used to evaluate mine waste at the California Gulch Superfund
Site near Leadville, Colorado. Laboratory leach tests of surface samples show
that leachate pH is most acidic and metals most mobile in samples from the
inner jarosite zone and that leachate pH is near-neutral and metals least
mobile in samples from the outer goethite zone. For more information, please
visit http://speclab.cr.usgs.gov/PAPERS/leadville99/ldv99.html
Utilization of Airborne Magnetic, Electromagnetic, and
Radiometric Data in Abandoned Mine Land Investigations
Smith, B.D.;
A.E. McCafferty; R.R. McDougal, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO.
Proceedings from the Fifth International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage
(ICARD 2000), 21-24 May 2000, Denver, Colorado.
Society for Mining,
Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Littleton, CO. Vol II, p 1525-1530,
2000
Magnetic, electromagnetic, and radiometric airborne survey data
have been used in regional and local (drainage basin) scales. In a regional
geoenvironmental assessment of the state of Montana, magnetic and radiometric
data compiled from airborne surveys were used along with other digital geologic
and geochemical data to prioritize mining districts for potential acid water
generation. Probability ratio mapping was done to integrate the interpretation
of many different digital data sets. On a more local scale, the Animas (CO) and
Boulder Basin (MT) watersheds have been studied using helicopter geophysical
surveys. The airborne geophysical surveys show many more structural features
than the geologic maps. Combined interpretation of the geophysical data sets
using the probability ratio method has resulted in identification of areas of
alteration. Airborne radiometric data in the Boulder Basin area suggests that
rocks with high potassium and thorium also have a high acid water buffering
capacity.
