Laser‐induced fluorescence and fast gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with subsurface thermal extraction of organics: Field analytical technologies for expediting site characterization and cleanup

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Abstract
This article describes new field‐based technologies that support the Dynamic Workplan/Adaptive Sampling and Analysis Program employed to better characterize hazardous waste sites at lower cost. A laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) probe was designed and field‐tested with a cone penetrometer (CP) for investigating petroleum contaminants present at under‐ground tank farms. The LIF produced real‐time quantitative data for naphthalene and semiquantitative results for total petroleum hydrocarbons and diesel range organics. Two different projects are described employing fast gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the field. A 70‐foot heated transfer line and probe were used in combination with a cone penetrometer to thermally extract (TE) subsurface soil‐bound semivolatile organics. In the second project, soil samples were collected by a GeoprobeTM and brought to the surface for analysis. The direct measurement TECP data produced semiquantitative results while the more conventional means of collecting and analyzing samples produced risk analysis quality data in the field. A new set of mass spectrometry algorithms provided the technology breakthrough for identifying and quantifying a wide range of Environmental‐Protection‐Agency‐listed target compounds in the presence of high levels of matrix (petroleum) interferents under fast, 7 min/sample, GC conditions.