TechLaw is experienced with the analysis of environmental samples for organic compounds by employing gas chromatography (GC) with multiple types of detectors, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), selected ion monitoring (SIM) GC/MS, and other organic techniques. For inorganic elements/compounds, staff are experienced using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP/MS), flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAA), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAA), cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAA), ion chromatography (IC), and other wet or physical/chemical techniques.
TechLaw provides field analysis and sampling expertise for field sampling activities. Projects performed under the ESAT contract include field support consisting of sample collection, well installation, and management and operation of a mobile laboratory used for field analyses. TechLaw has also performed method development in the field to ensure data obtained by the mobile laboratory are of excellent quality. Through the use of the Field Analytical Service Program (FASP) mobile laboratory, TechLaw has provided on-site sample testing and analyses for constituents such as metals, water quality parameters, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pentachlorophenol (PCP) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). We have provided same-day or next-day reporting, enabling EPA Project Officers to make near real-time decisions.
Under the current Region 10 ESAT contract, TechLaw has conducted the full-spectrum of environmental sample analyses. A total of 49 different types of analyses were performed in the organics, inorganics, general chemistry, and field service areas on sample matrices that included soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, wastewater, invertebrates, fish tissue, blood, animal scat, whole rodents, and product samples. Over the past five years, team members have analyzed more than 16,000 samples that comprise more than 150,000 quantitations, excluding QC samples and dilutions. Our staff is adept with the operation of GC (ECD and FID detectors with purge & trap, if needed), GC/MS, HPLC, ICP-AES, ICP/MS, AA, GFAA, CVAA, XRF, IC, potentiometric devices, Elemental Analyzers, and gravimetric equipment.
For the past five years, the Wyckoff Ground Water Treatment Plant (GWTP) at the Wyckoff site was monitored weekly for PAH and PCP contaminants in the feed stream. The effluent stream was monitored monthly for state compliance. The project officer received preliminary results via fax within two to three days of sample receipt. Full data packages were routinely delivered one to two weeks early. We completed five requests for fast turn-around analyses, which were completed and reported the same day as sample receipt. On two occasions, TechLaw ESAT personnel traveled to the site to pick up samples, thus eliminating a one-day shipping delay. The rapid analyses were necessary to enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to make near real-time decisions about operating the GWTP facility while active steam injection was performed at the site. TechLaw has delivered 12 data packages for specialty analyses, such as low-level selective ion monitoring (SIM) PAH analyses and TPH-diesel fraction analyses.
TechLaw has the experience and expertise to develop methods that meet EPA's changing analytical requirements. Under our Region 10 ESAT contract, we were tasked to develop XRF capability. The EPA provided a new hand-held Niton XL-723 XRF unit, with the purpose of FASP screening for metals in soil samples. TechLaw’s ESAT was also tasked to develop a methodology and demonstrate proficiency with the unit before its use during a field project at Lake Roosevelt. The unit was tested extensively in the field and shown to be suitable for FASP screening for metals in soil samples, with highly accurate performance on a variety of control samples. The primary analyst prepared a paper for presentation that demonstrated how well the XRF data compared to CLP analyses of the same samples from the Lake Roosevelt area. More recently, TechLaw staff were trained on the use of the new Innov-X XRF system, which uses an X-ray tube instead of a radioactive source, enabling crossing of state lines without violating radioactive source licensing rules.