Monday, November 5, 2007 : 2:10 p.m.
Use of Tracer Gases in Soil Vapor Assessments: Analytical Considerations
Conceptually the use of a tracer gas for soil vapor sampling of petroleum contaminated sites makes sense. It is intended to be an independent check of the integrity of the sampling connections between source and sample collection device. The use of tracer gas can therefore, can be a measure of the integrity of the sample collected in the summa canister. Certain state regulations require the use of specific tracer gases. Others recommend or only recognize the use of tracer gases and leave the selection of the specific gas employed to the user. The selection of tracer gas, application and method of use can have significant implications to the analysis of the sample, standards stability and preparation as well as data interpretation. We will discuss these implications from the viewpoint of an analytical services provider.
Charles J. Neslund, Lancaster Laboratories Mr. Neslund earned a chemistry degree from the University of Pittsburgh, studying organic chemistry under Paul Dowd. He has worked for Lancaster Laboratories for 20 years starting as a pesticide and petroleum chemicals analyst. He has worked in the volatiles, petroleum, pesticide and semivolatiles sections of the lab. He currently manages the volatiles in air analytical group as well as the semivolatiles analytical group. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and a lifetime member of the Chromatography Forum of the Delaware Valley.