Licensing Opportunity:
SIBS Field Screening Monitor for Metals

Description

PSI is developing a field screening technique for metals in water and soil based on spark-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SIBS). We have established practical sampling methodologies and demonstrated ppm detection limits for lead and chromium. Prototype analyzer development and field testing will be performed under continued government funding. The goal is to provide a robust, portable and analytically accurate field screening tool for site remediation projects.

SIBS Metals Field Screening Monitor

Uses and Applications

Remediation of hazardous waste sites relies on substantial sampling and analysis to determine the contaminant spatial extent. Standard practice generally involves laboratory analysis of samples which takes up to three weeks. The SIBS field screening technique will allow rapid, same day site assessment facilitating faster clean-up efforts at reduced cost.

The SIBS technology uses an electrically generated, highly reproducible spark to vaporize and excite airborne particulates, adsorbed solids and dissolved metal species. The atomic fluorescence is detected by a radiometer or spectrometer. For analysis of soils, a simple and rapid procedure employing standard addition methodology for loose soil has been developed. For water, the samples are analyzed directly with no sample pre-treatment necessary (except for particle filtration).

Benefits

• Immediate measurement results
• Real-time clean-up decision-making
• Contaminant mapping and boundary identification
• Simple, field portable instrumentation
• Single user operation
• Complements existing analysis methods
• Suitable for preliminary site assessment, real-time monitoring during clean-up, and for post-clean-up compliance verification.

Sample Data

The technology has been tested on actual environmental soil and water samples as well as standard reference materials. The resulting fluorescence spectra are easy to interpret as shown on the right. This figure shows the prominent 405.7 nm lead line feature from SIBS-analyzed sand at two different lead concentrations.

Comparison of the SIBS soil analysis results for local (Andover soil) and two standard reference methods are shown in the following table. The results show accurate determination of the NIST certified values and reliability equivalent to that of the independent laboratory analysis.

PSI SIBS Field Screening Monitoring Specifications

David M. Sonnenfroh Physical Sciences Inc. 20 New England Business Center Andover, MA 01810-1077 Telephone: (978) 689-0003 Fax: (978) 689-3232 sonnenfroh@psicorp.com