SCAPS Investigation of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds in Groundwater at Building 525, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

Site characterization for subsurface contaminants is time-consuming and costly. The Tri-Service Site Characterization and Analysis Penetrometer System SCAPS has been developed to reduce the time and cost required for site characterization. Sensors have been developed for a variety of contaminants of concern to the Department of Defense. The Hydrosparge Volatile Organic Compound VOC groundwater sensing system has been developed and was demonstrated at Aberdeen Proving Ground APG, MD, in August 1995. The Hydrosparge is capable of accessing groundwater, sparging VOC contaminants in situ, and analyzing the contaminant concentrations using a field portable ion trap mass spectrometer. During the 7-day demonstration at Building 525, APG, a total of 29 SCAPS penetrations were performed 6 stratigraphic penetrations and 23 Hydrosparge penetrations. The results obtained with the SCAPS in situ technique were verified by collecting groundwater samples and analysis of the verification samples by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA Method 8260. Results of verification sample analyses indicated a strong linear relationship with EPA Methods. The SCAPS Hydrosparge deployment at Building 525, APG, demonstrated the rapid site characterization capabilities of the SCAPS VOC sensor.