Method for measuring the content of halogenated organic compounds in soil samples

摘要

A method for measuring the halogenated organic compound content, e.g., polychlorinated biphenyl ("PCB") content, of soil samples may effectively be carried out with an inexpensive, disposable (that is, single-use) field test kit. The method includes contacting a weighted soil sample suspected of containing PCB or some other organohalogen contaminant with a pre-mixture of water and an organic solvent in which water is slightly soluble. The water extracts any inorganic halides which may be present and would adversely affect the accuracy of the test. The organic solvent wets the moist soil sample sufficiently to extract any PCB therein. The resultant organic solvent phase is separated from the soil sample and aqueous phase, dried by passage through a moisture- adsorbent material to remove or at least greatly reduce its moisture content, and analyzed by means of a color-change titration to determine halide content, and thereby the PCB (or other organohalogen) content, of the soil sample.