Project Information
To determine if there should be further action on this site, the first step was to collect several soil samples to be tested in the laboratory. Gold Member Inc. collected 102 soil samples over a 2 day span. Then the samples were tested through an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) instruments to determine the concentrations of the samples. From the collected results, Gold Member Inc. is able to determine if further action should be proceeded. The Following are pictures taken from the site and testing.
The figure above shows Gold Member Inc. gathering a sample of soil. The left figure below shows the collected sample to be tested with the XRF. The sample was ran through a number 10 sieve and had 9 areas that the soil was going to be tested. The right figure below shows Audrey using the XRF instrument on a bag of a soil. She took 9 readings, dropping the highest and lowest, to get an average concentration.
The left figure below shows Nicolas preparing a sample to be ran through the FAAS. He weighed out approximately 10 grams of soil. The right figure below shows the weighed out sample being put in a drying oven for 24 hours.
The left figure below shows Audrey inserting nitric acid and 30% Hydrogen Peroxide into a container. The right figure below shows 11 samples being inserted into a microwave where the nitric acid will digest the metals. Once this was done, the samples had to be filtered before running them through the FAAS.
Once the samples were finished being filtered, they were ready to be ran through a FAAS instrument to determine the concentration. The left figure below shows a sample running through a FAAS instrument. A correlation was done comparing the XRF results and FAAS results to find the values of all the concentrations. The right figure below shows a concentration map of lead for the entire site. The green dots means the concentration found was below residential remediation levels, yellow dots are above residential remediation levels but below non-residential remediation levels, and red dots are above non-residential remediation levels.
Project Constraints
- The team will not be sampling in private property.
- The team will not be addressing or providing remediation alternatives.