| Use: | Extraction of chemical contaminants from water and soil samples. |
Description:
Supercritical fluid extraction utilizes the increased solvency of supercritical fluids to extract contaminants from a sample. The supercritical fluid is mixed with the sample in an extractor vessel and the contaminants are dissolved and extracted to an equilibrium solubility level (typically about 10%). The gaseous solution then exits the extractor vessel and is passed through a pressure reduction valve, where the pressure (and the dissolving power) of the fluid is reduced, causing the contaminants to precipitate in a separation vessel. The fluid, under reduced pressure, flashes to a gaseous phase, leaving the contaminants in a liquid phase in the separation vessel. The contaminants are then recovered and analyzed. The solvent gas is recycled by a compressor, which raises the pressure of the gas until it condenses into a liquid and the process is repeated.
Analytes:
| 2. Non-Halogenated SVOCs | 5. PAHs |
| 4. Halogenated SVOCs | 10. Explosives |
Media:
| Soil: | Ground Water: | Surface Water: | Gas/Air: |
| MINIMUM | MODERATE | MODERATE | Not Applicable |
| Maximum Depth: | Not Applicable. |
| Production Rate: | Sample is available quickly. |
| Investigation Derived Waste Volume: | Medium volume of waste. |
| Technology Status: | Commercially available technology with limited field experience. |
| Certification/Verification: | Technology has not participated in CalEPA certification and/or CSCT verification program. |
| Relative Cost per Sample: | Most expensive. |
Limitations:
EPA Methods:
| 3560 | Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Total Recoverable Petroleum Hydrocarbons. |
| 3561 | Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons. |
| Previous Page | Sample Access/Collection Matrix | Sample Analysis Matrix | Home | Areas of Interest | Next Page |