December 1996 Field Test of the Fiber Optic Infrared Cone Penetrometer

摘要

A two-day field test of NRL's fiber optic infrared cone penetrometer was conducted at a site suspected of containing shallow deposits of chlorinated solvents. The electro-optical system, including recent improvements, worked nominally throughout the test. Laboratory characterization of the system demonstrated the capability to detect and identify 1,2 DCA, 1,1 DCA and TCE at weight fractions greater than 2 wt% in sample soil taken from the test site containing 20 wt% water. No evidence of homogeneously-distributed, free-product DNAPL in excess of 2 wt% was observed. In it's current form, the fiber optic infrared cone penetrometer is suitable for identifying contaminants in saturated, free-product pools in known locations. Further improvements are required before the system will be capable of locating such pools.