Evaluating the Hanby Test Kits for Screening Soil and Groundwater for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons: Field Demonstration

This report evaluates the methods of analysis that can be used with the Hanby Test Kits for assessing the total petroleum hydrocarbon TPH contamination in environmental matrices. This field screening technique is based on the colorimetric analysis of petroleum products in soil and water matrices, following a solvent extraction and a Friedel-Crafts reaction. The methods include visually comparing the sample to reference photographs, and two spectrophotometric H.E.L.P. Mate 2010 and 2000 systems designed to establish discrete values. To test these field screening techniques, 90 field and quality assurance QA samples were obtained. Both of the spectrophotometric methods experienced instrumental problems, so that fewer than 60 of the samples distributed could be analyzed on-site. Ultimately, the H.E.L.P. Mate 2010 was dropped from the evaluation altogether. Furthermore, because of these complications, no TPH values were reported during the field exercise. The results yielded by the visual and H.E.L.P. Mate 2000 methods were compared for the QA samples the visual technique was more reliable for showing the presence and estimating the quantity of TPH contamination.