FRTR Field Sampling and Analysis Technologies Reference Guide

4 COLLECTION TOOLS

Use:

Kemerer and Van Dorn samplers are commonly used for surface water sampling. The coliwasa is most generally used for containerized water.

Description:

Mechanical depth-specific samplers are very portable and require no outside power source. A variety of types are available:

Kemerer and Van Dorn samplers consist of tubes that close when a line to an end cap is triggered.
A coliwasa is a tube with neoprene stoppers at each end that are controlled by a rod that runs through the tube and a locking mechanism.
The stratified sample thief, used to sample stratified immiscible fluids, consists of a rod passing through the center of a series of disks spaced at intervals where sampling is desired.

Analytes:

Media:

Soil:	Ground Water:	Surface Water:	Gas/Air:
Not Applicable	MINIMUM	MINIMUM	Not Applicable

Can cause alterations due to aeration, degassing, volatilization, or turbulence when lowering bailer into water column.

Maximum Depth:	200 feet. Operation of mechanical samplers is difficult at increased depths. Minimum well diameter: Kemerer/Van Dorn - 1 inch; Coliwasa- 2 inches; Stratified sample thief - 1.5 inches.
Production Rate:	Sample is available after a short amount of time.
Investigation Derived Waste Volume:	Large volume of waste.
Technology Status:	Commercially available and routinely used field technology.
Certification/Verification:	Technology has not participated in CalEPA certification and/or CSCT verification program.
Relative Cost per Sample:	Least expensive.

Limitations:

Difficult to operate at increased depths.
Activating mechanisms prone to malfunction.
Can be difficult to transfer sample to storage container.
Leaching of constituents from neoprene and rubber end caps may occur.
Some samplers remain open while descending through the water column.
Sampling container is exposed to medium being sampled while being lowered to sampling point.
Sampling device construction materials may not be compatible with parameters of concern.
May be difficult to decontaminate due to construction materials.

ASTM Standards:

D4136-82 (1993)	Sampling Phytoplankton with Water-Sampling Bottles.
D5495-94	Sampling With a Composite Liquid Waste Sampler (COLIWASA).
D 6232	Standard Guide for Selection of Sampling Equipment for Waste and Contaminated Media Data Collection Activities.