| Use: | Chemical colorimetric kits are self-contained portable kits for analyzing soil or
water samples for the presence of a variety of inorganic and organic compounds. These
tests require no instrumentation and can be performed in the field with minimal training.
Should only be used as an indication or screening device. Safe for thermally sensitive
compounds. See 6.2.27 for use with VOCs, SVOCs, and pesticides, and 7.1.4 for use with metals. |
Description:
Colorimetry involves mixing of reagents of known concentrations with a test solution in specified amounts that result in chemical reactions in which the absorption of radiant energy (color of the solution) is a function of the concentration of the analyte of interest. At the simplest level, concentrations can be estimated with visual comparators.
Analytes:
10. Explosives
Media:
| Soil/Sediment | Water | Gas/Air |
| Requires extraction to liquid phase | BETTER | Not Applicable |
| Selectivity: | Technique measures the contaminant indirectly. |
| Susceptibility to Interference: | Medium. |
| Detection Limits : | 10-100 ppm (soil); 0.5-10 ppm (water). |
| Turnaround Time per Sample: | Minutes. |
| Applicable To: | |||
| Screen/Identify | Characterize Concentration/Extent | Cleanup Performance | Long-Term Monitoring |
| BETTER | ADEQUATE | ADEQUATE | BETTER |
| Quantitative Data Capability: | Data become quantitative with additional effort. |
| Technology Status: | Commercially available and routinely used field technology. |
| Certification/Verification: | Technology has not participated in CalEPA certification and/or CSCT verification program. |
| Relative Cost per Analysis: | Least expensive. |
Limitations:
EPA Methods:
| 8515 | Colorimetric Screening Method for TNT in Soil. |
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