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South Carolina Water Science Center Publication Abstracts

Diffusion Samplers as an Inexpensive Approach to Monitoring VOCs in Ground Water

By Don A. Vroblesky

A User's Guide is available online in pdf format:
Part 1 (WRIR 01-4060, 3 MB)
Part 2 (WRIR 01-4061, 5 MB)

Abstract

Diffusion samplers installed in observation wells were found to be capable of yielding representative water samples for chlorinated volatile organic compounds. The samplers consisted of polyethylene bags containing deionized water and relied on diffusion of chlorinated volatile organic compounds through the polyethylene membrane. The known ability of polyethylene to transmit other volatile compounds, such as benzene and toluene, indicates that the samplers can be used for a variety of volatile organic compounds. In wells at the study area, the volatile organic compound concentrations in water samples obtained using the samplers without prior purging were similar to concentrations in water samples obtained from the respective wells using traditional purging and sampling approaches. The low cost associated with this approach makes it a viable option for monitoring large observation-well networks for volatile organic compounds.

Vendor Contacts:
Columbia Analytical Services: On-line at caslab.com
Phone: 1-800-695-7222

Eon Products: On-line at eonpro.com
Phone: 1-800-474-2490

License Contacts:
PDB samplers employ patented technology (U.S. patent number 5,804,743), the user is required to purchase commercially produced samplers from a licensed manufacturer or purchase a nonexclusive license for sampler construction from the U.S. Geological Survey Technology Enterprise Office at:

U. S. Geological Survey Technology Transfer Enterprise Office
Mail Stop 211, National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 20192
Phone: 703-648-4403
Fax: 703-648-4408

Internet Training Materials: On-line at Interstate Technology and Regulatory Cooperation

Reference: Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, vol. 17, no.3, pp. 177-184

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