Soil Contamination Survey with ECOPROBE 5
ECOPROBE 5
The ECOPROBE 5 heralds a new era in flexibility, convenience, and quality for in-situ detection and analysis of VOC’s and other contaminant indicators. It is able to offer cost-effective, state-of-the-art soil contaminant surveys with an unprecedented breadth of high precision data. These are the result of its unique combination of a PID analyser (for measurement of total soil gas concentration) and a selective IR analyser (for the separate measurement of Methane, Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Carbon Dioxide).
The resulting set of parameters is further complemented by temperature, pressure and Oxygen measurement. The ECOPROBE 5 is characterized by extreme sensitivity, outstanding zero stability of both the PID and IR analysers, a real-time soil porosity measurement capability, advanced surface logging system and a GPS position logger. Data processing is managed using software compatible with Surfer and other mainstream graphic data processing systems. All this makes the ECOPROBE 5 a true breakthrough in environmental technology.
ECOPROBE 5 ‘s methodology addresses most of natural conditions and accomplishes the difficult task of practising and interpreting soil contamination survey in a truly scientific way. The most important subsurface factors that affect in-situ soil contamination measurements are:
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Presence of Methane: as a product of natural biodegradation, Methane occurs in varying concentrations everywhere in the sub-soil environment.
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Soil permeability: soils with differing permeability properties create differing soil vapor evaporation conditions. Due to their inner structure, relatively impermeable soils such as clay produce soil vapors for much shorter periods of time compared to highly permeable soils such as sand.
The presence of Methane and widely differing soil permeabilities are the two crucial distorting factors in soil contamination surveys. Both dramatically affect the resulting measured values of contaminant concentrations. Without the benefits of the new ECOPROBE method, these misleading results cause severe misinterpretation of both in-situ and laboratory measurements.
To avoid these subsurface factors, ECOPROBE 5 provides a separate measurement for Methane and displays sequences of measured values onscreen, thereby providing important information about the soil conditions in the given environment, and specifically about the potential capability of soils of differing permeabilities to provide soil vapor for measurement. Graphs showing sequences of measured values (below) can be stored on the instrument memory.
To illustrate this point, the graphs below were obtained using identical quantities of clay and sand soil samples, into which identical quantities of contaminant had been mixed.
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 Sequence of measured values from poor permeability soil – clay. Evaluated by ECOPROBE_VIEW Software The sharp decay rate of the curve indicates the insufficient porosity of the soil environment |
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Sequence of measured values from good permeability soil – sand Evaluated by ECOPROBE_ VIEW Software The “zero” decay rate of the curve indicates the perfect porosity of the soil environment |
In contrast to sand, clay is able to donate vapor phase for a much shorter period of time and it is obvious that frequently used integral measurements result in misleading values by several orders. For general survey purposes, ECOPROBE 5 offers a special mode showing the highest measured value at each measured station. This mode enables measurement compensation for different soil permeabilities (see the red arrows on the graphs ).
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Data Transfer & Graphic Data Acquisition Software ECOPROBE_VIEW
The ECOPROBE_VIEW software package for Win9x/NT/2000 communication is the advanced software technology that ensures user-friendly data transfer from the instrument to the computer providing graphic data interpretation and a data spreadsheet (below). The data spreadsheet enables you to obtain contour maps & 3-D wire frame maps (using e.g. Surfer, or Rockware) in less than 10 minutes!!
The ECOPROBE 5 instrument provides standard surface data logging and optional GPS logging. Both allow freedom of movement to any measurement station in the given locality. All data are stored on the instrument memory according to the surface X ,Y or GPS coordinates. This system of data logging represents the most powerful and versatile tool for obtaining interpretation results promptly.
ECOPROBE_VIEW features:
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Drag & Drop data transfer both ways |
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Full GPS compatibility |
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Displays data in profile mode or GPS mode |
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Displays correlation graphs of all measured channels |
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Displays 3-D visualization of measured values (wire maps) |
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Creates and displays a data spreadsheet compatible with other 3-D visualization programs (Grapher, Surfer, Excel) |
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Enables fast in-situ calibration of O2, temperature and vacuum |
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Enables full-range cubic-spline multipoint calibration of all measured channels to achieve high accuracy measurement |
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 ECOPROBE_VIEW main window |
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Time-graph of measured cycle |
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Correlation graphs: PID, Methane, Total Petroleum, CO2 and Vacuum during pumping readings along one line |
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The time trajectory of measurement at the given site; GPS logging |
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The time trajectory of measurement at the given site; standard surface data logging |
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 ECOPROBE_VIEW measured data spreadsheet; GPS logging |
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Calibration
The ECOPROBE 5 and ECOPROBE_VIEW system software incorporate three advanced tools for the precise calibration of all measured channels, in this way ensuring high accuracy of all evaluated data.
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| On site fast calibration of PID and IR channels |
1) ECOPROBE 5’s internal software enables fast single-point on site calibration of the PID and all IR channels. The ECOPROBE 5 set includes a calibration kit, consisting of a LINDE calibration standard cylinder (100 ppm Isobuthylene mixed into synthetic air) and a plastic/metal calibration bag and calibration valve (LINDE) for injecting gas from the cylinder. ECOPROBE 5 ’s simple, 3-minute calibration procedure is controlled by the instrument’s internal calibration program. That is all you need to calibrate the instrument in the field!
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| Fast calibration of temperature, O2 and pressure window (ECOPROBE_VIEW software) |
2) ECOPROBE_VIEW software enables fast and comfortable calibration of the external temperature probe, Oxygen channel and Pressure/vacuum channel. Values measured by the instrument (actual) are recorded in a simple menu (on the right). After inserting the requested real values, ECOPROBE_VIEW software will do the whole calibration automatically within a second.
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3) The ECOPROBE_VIEW advanced calibration tool enables users to modify the original factory calibration spline curve that might be affected by previous contamination by dust or other field influences. It can be used for PID and all IR measuring channels within a specific part of the curve or along the whole curve to achieve 1% accuracy. Just select the channel you want to calibrate (below left), measure the desired values from the calibration standards (4 values in the middle window below) and complete the calibration using the advanced calibration tool (bellow right). Easy, fast & accurate!!
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Advanced Calibration Window – shows the whole calibration curve (blue) and its calculated replacement (red) according to newly measured values in the requested curve interval (ECOPROBE_VIEW software) |
GPS Logging
The ECOPROBE 5 is the first world class earth-science instrument with a fully-integrated GPS positioning system !
Optional GPS Logging offers exceptional user friendliness while surveying large areas. GPS coordinates and all ECOPROBE 5 data are available in less than 1 minute at the touch of a button!
GPS satellite orbital information is referenced to WGS 84. WGS 84 is an earth-fixed global reference frame using the latitude and longitude coordinates to locate points on the Earth’s surface.
Depending upon accuracy requirements, users may select from GPS systems with:
Meter precision
Decimeter precision
Centimeter precision
To facilitate orientation in the field, the ECOPROBE 5 also displays onscreen coordinates in surface meters. This enables the operator to move easily in the field using X and Y coordinates based on the first measured station (X=0, Y=0).
Case Study
Mapping, Delineation & Monitoring of the Hydrocarbon and other VOC Contamination using ECOPROBE 5
Ecological accidents where hydrocarbons have been spilt or leaked into the ground are typical and most common examples where the highly portable ECOPROBE 5 instrument offers the fastest and most cost-effective way for mapping, delineating and monitoring of the contaminant pollution.
Fast pollution delineation and consequent site cleaning are the most important tasks to prevent a contaminant from reaching the underground water table.
Generally, the contaminant is known and there is no need to have the whole spectrum laboratory analysed from each measured station.
Test site
One test site is in the area surrounding a railway terminal, where the hydrocarbon products are transferred from tank wagons to underground storage tanks. The leakage from pipes and badly protected high volume tanks caused serious LNAPL pollution with a thick layer of kerosene at the water table. The test site is situated in permeable sandstone and alluvial sediments, very suitable for the Soil Contamination Survey. About 100 stations were measured in one day.
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| The position and trajectory of the measured stations at the test site |
INTERPRETATION
The wire frame maps below were obtained within 10 minutes using the spreadsheet which ECOPROBE_VIEW program automatically creates from data saved in ECOPROBE 5. The wire frame maps show clear differences between long standing and more recent contaminations.
Long-standing contamination Recent contamination
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 PID indicates contamination (mostly hydrocarbon compounds) |
The PID channel indicates contamination from a wide spectrum of volatile organic compounds (excluding Methane). In case of hydrocarbon contamination PID measures mostly hydrocarbon compounds.
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| Bacterial activity has not yet started. There is practically no Methane indication on the Methane graph. |
The Methane channel indicates extensive bacterial activity (bacteria produce Methane) typical of long standing contamination.
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| The TP channel indicates hydrocarbon compounds present in recent contamination. |
The TP channel measures petroleum hydrocarbons including Methane. Long standing contamination shows up mostly as Methane on the TP graph, but the hydrocarbon product is still presented (values on TP channel are higher than on the Methane channel; see also PID indication).
Benefits Here is what you get…
Wide-spectrum PID and 4-channel selective IR soil analytical system plus a powerful computer, all-in-one, highly portable case !
100% data PC compatibility for fast 3D mapping!
Simultaneous in-situ measurement of 8 values at one measuring station (VOC concentration from PID, Selective Methane, Total Petroleum and CO2 concentration from the IR analyzer, O2, Soil temperature, Sampling vacuum and Ambient pressure). This breadth of data considerably improves the overall quality of measurement. The response time is < 1 second !
Measured data are compensated for the effect of Methane, Soil porosity/permeability, Pressure & Soil temperature .
On screen real time measurement process, indicating soil parameters and contaminant behavior
Fully integrated GPS positioning system with an accuracy of 3 meters to centimeters (optional).
Ultra-high sensitivity of both the IR and PID analyzers enables identification of even traces of contamination!
Automatic monitoring station — just preset the sampling interval and leave the instrument wherever needed. The ECOPROBE 5 will do the work for you. Wireless control / data download available via GSM data network (optional).
Fast return of your investment ! Here is what you save…
Costly lab analyses are now a thing of the past! EPA based calibration in the field within 2 minutes. Immediate recognition between old and recent contamination!
In-situ measurement at each station (all 8 values) takes less then 1 minute!
You save by not repeating measurements!
Single man operation
The system configuration smoothes out inconsistent factors and eliminates interpretation errors:
You save by having fast, reliable and precise data!
Fast in-situ mapping of contaminant spread/actual migration saves a lot of money that would otherwise need to be spent on remediation. Immediate on screen graphic results: Saves time needed for decisions where to extend/continue the survey!
A versatile and powerful Standard or GPS data logger facilitates the production of contour maps from ECOPROBE_VIEW system software in only a few minutes! (further processing by Surfer, Geosoft, RockWare, e.t.c. available)
Saves time & money otherwise spent in time-consuming data interpretation!
GPS logger enables fast and accurate mapping of large sites. No geodetic location needed: You save by eliminating geodetic work!
Applications
With the very high sensitivity of the PID, the instrument has capability that reaches well beyond the standard soil contamination survey. Effectiveness in the detection and monitoring of contaminant spills and plume migration is substantially enhanced by the incorporation of ancillary data. The extremely high zero stability, combined with suppression of Methane by the PID analyzer, provides a detection capability undiminished by natural hydrocarbon occurrence, ensuring the application of optimum sensitivity levels. UST and pipeline leakage detection and localization are further extensions of the soil contaminant application, as the tracking of contamination from agricultural waste. Less obvious applications are to be found in the detection and monitoring of organic toxins in industrial fields. Minute traces of gas can be an indication of approaching breakdown of a shaft seal or packing in a process vessel with externally driven components. Real time continuous display mode makes localization of leakage with pinpoint accuracy a reality. Further application incorporating the IR, Oxygen and temperature detection are found in the in-situ monitoring of bio-remediation, where bacteria consume oxygen, and generate heat along with Methane and Carbon Dioxide. Routine periodic repetition of sampling at fixed locations can track both the progress and health or effectiveness of the process, as the results provide a clear indication of bacterial activity as well as contaminant concentration.
