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Evaluation of Passive Diffusion Bag and Dialysis Samplers in Selected Wells at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, July 2001

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigation Report 02-4159, 29 pages (Published 2002)

Don A. Vroblesky and Tasha Pravecek

AIR FORCE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

This report is available online in pdf format (2 MB): USGS WRIR 02-4159

ABSTRACT

Field comparisons of chemical concentrations obtained from dialysis samplers, passive diffusion bag samplers, and low-flow samplers showed generally close agreement in most of the 13 wells tested during July 2001 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The data for chloride, sulfate, iron, alkalinity, arsenic, and methane appear to show that the dialysis samplers are capable of accurately collecting a passive sample for these constituents. In general, the comparisons of volatile organic compound concentrations showed a relatively close correspondence between the two different types of diffusion samples and between the diffusion samples and the low-flow samples collected in most wells. Divergence appears to have resulted primarily from the pumping method, either producing a mixed sample or water not characteristic of aquifer water moving through the borehole under ambient conditions. The fact that alkalinity was not detected in the passive diffusion bag samplers, even when deployed in alkaline water, implies that the passive diffusion bag samplers can be used to collect volatile organic compounds from highly alkaline waters without volatilization loss from effervescence, which can occur when a sample is acidified for preservation. Both dialysis and passive diffusion bag samplers are relatively inexpensive and can be deployed rapidly and easily. Passive diffusion bag samplers are intended for sampling volatile organic compounds only, but dialysis samplers can be used to sample both volatile organic compounds and inorganic solutes. Regenerated cellulose dialysis samplers, however, are subject to biodegradation and probably should be deployed no sooner than 2 weeks prior to recovery.

CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Site Description

Acknowledgments

Methods

Diffusion Sampler Construction and Deployment

Water-Sample Collection and Diffusion-Sampler Recovery

Data Evaluation

Results and Discussion

Inorganic Solutes

Volatile Organic Compounds

Advantages and Limitations of Diffusion Samplers at Hickam Air Force Base

Summary and Conclusions

References

REPORT AVAILABILITY

This report is available online in pdf format (2 MB): USGS WRIR 02-4159
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