ASTM D6418-99e1
(Practice)Standard Practice for Using the Disposable En Core Sampler for Sampling and Storing Soil for Volatile Organic Analysis
Standard Practice for Using the Disposable En Core Sampler for Sampling and Storing Soil for Volatile Organic Analysis
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is intended for application to soils that may contain volatile waste constituents.
1.2 This practice provides a procedure for using the disposable En Core sampler to collect and store a soil sample for volatile organic analysis.
1.3 It is recommended that this standard be used in conjunction with Practice D 4547 and Guide D 4687.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 1—ASTM takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.
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e1
Designation: D 6418 – 99
Standard Practice for
Using the Disposable En Core Sampler for Sampling and
Storing Soil for Volatile Organic Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6418; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
e NOTE—The title was corrected editorially in August 1999.
1. Scope able En Core sampler to collect and store a soil sample of
approximately 5 or 25 g for volatile organic analysis. The En
1.1 This practice is intended for application to soils that may
Core sampler, which consists of a coring body/storage cham-
contain volatile waste constituents.
ber, O-ring sealed plunger, and O-ring sealed cap, is designed
1.2 This practice provides a procedure for using the dispos-
to collect and hold a soil sample during shipment to the
able En Core sampler to collect and store a soil sample for
laboratory for analysis.
volatile organic analysis.
3.2 After the sample is collected in the En Core sampler, the
1.3 It is recommended that this standard be used in conjunc-
coring body/storage chamber is sealed with a slide-on cap and
tion with Practice D 4547 and Guide D 4687.
immediately becomes a sample storage chamber. To minimize
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
loss of volatile compounds due to volatilization, or biodegra-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
dation, or both, from the time of collection until analysis or
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
preservation in the laboratory (see Practice D 4547), sample
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
storage in the device currently is specified at 4 62°C for up to
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
48 h. For cases where holding times beyond 48 h are necessary,
NOTE 1—ASTM takes no position respecting the validity of any patent
storage of samples in the En Core sampler at 4 62°C or –12 6
rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned in this standard.
2°C for longer than 48 h is an option, provided it can be shown
Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the
that the longer storage time used does not influence the
validity of any such patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such
concentrations of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of
rights, are entirely their own responsibility.
interest in the samples, or that the data generated by analysis of
2. Referenced Documents
the samples meet the data quality objectives (DQOs), (see
Practice D 5792). This practice does not use methanol preser-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
vation or other chemical preservatives in the field.
D 2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
Applicable Methods of Committee D-19 on Water
4. Significance and Use
D 4547 Practice for Sampling Waste and Soils for Volatile
4.1 This practice is for use in collecting and storing 5- or
Organics
25-g soil samples for volatile organic analysis in a manner that
D 4687 Guide for General Planning of Waste Sampling
minimizes loss of contaminants due to volatilization, or bio-
D 5792 Practice for Generation of Environmental Data
degradation, or both. The En Core sampler serves as both the
Related to Waste Management Activities: Development of
sampling device and sample storage chamber.
Data Quality Objectives
4.2 In performing the practice, the integrity of the soil
3. Summary of Practice
sample structure is maintained during sample collection, stor-
age, and transfer in the laboratory for analysis or preservation.
3.1 This practice provides a procedure for using the dispos-
4.3 During sample collection, storage, and transfer, there is
very limited exposure of the sample to the atmosphere.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.03 on 4.4 Laboratory subsampling is not required when perform-
Sampling Equipment.
ing this practice. The sample is expelled directly from the
Current edition approved June 10, 1999. Published August 1999.
coring body/storage chamber into the appropriate container for
En Core is a registered trademark of En Novative Technologies, Inc., Green
analysis or preservation without disrupting the integrity of the
Bay, WI. The En Core sampler is covered by a patent. Interested parties are invited
to submit information regarding the identification of an alternative(s) to this
sample. Subsampling from the En Core device should not be
patented item to the ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful
performed to obtain smaller sample sizes for analysis.
consideration at a meeting of the responsible technical committee, which you may
4.5 This practice specifies sample storage in the En Core
attend.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. sampler at 4 62°C for up to 48 h. For cases where holding
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.04.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 6418
times beyond 48 h are necessary, storage of samples in the En assuming a soil density of 1.7 g/cm . The coring body/storage
Core sampler at 4 62°C or –12 62°C for longer than 48 h is chamber of the 25-g sampler has a volume of 14.5 cm to give
an option, provided it can be shown that the longer storage time a sample size of approximately 25 g, assuming a soil density of
used does not influence the concentrations of the VOCs of 1.7 g/cm . The seals of the sampler are provided by three
interest in the samples, or that the data generated by analysis of polytetrafluoroethylene-coated fluoroelastomer O-rings (see
the samples meet the DQOs (see Practice D 5792). Fig. 1). The coring body/storage chamber, plunger, and cap of
4.6 This practice does not use methanol preservation or the En Core sampler are constructed of an inert composite
other chemical preservatives in the field. As a result, there are polymer. The En Core sampler is certified as clean and should
no problems associated with flammability hazards, shipping not be reused. There are two stainless steel reusable attach-
restrictions, or dilution of samples containing low volatile ments that are used with the En Core sampler. These are a
concentrations due to solvents being added to samples in the T-handle, which is used to push the sampler into the soil for
field. sample collection; and an extrusion tool, which attaches to the
4.7 The En Core sampler is a single-use device. It should plunger for extrusion of the sample from the coring body/
not be cleaned, or reused, or both. storage chamber (see Fig. 2). Each En Core sampler is supplied
4.8 This practice cannot be used for sampling cemented with a protective moisture-proof bag for shipment to the
material, consolidated material, or material having fragments laboratory.
coarse enough to interfere with proper coring techniques. 5.2 Minimum/Maximum Thermometer—This is any ther-
mometer that registers the minimum and maximum tempera-
5. Apparatus
tures reached during any given period of time in °C and has a
5.1 En Core Sampler—The En Core sampler has three
range that includes the specified storage temperature in divi-
components: the coring body/storage chamber, which is volu- sions of 1°C.
metrically designed to collect and store a soil sample of
6. Procedure
approximately 5 or 25 g; an O-ring sealed plunger for
nondisruptive extrusion of the sample into an appropriate 6.1 The size of the En Core sampler used is determined by
container for analysis or preservation; and, a slide-on cap the size of the sample required by the laboratory procedure that
having an O-ring seal and locking arm mechanism (see Fig. 1). will be used to analyze the sample. If a sample size of
The coring body/storage chamber of the 5-g sampler has a approximately5gis required for analysis, the 5-g En Core
volume of 3 cm to give a sample size of approximately 5 g, sampler, and not the 25-g device, should be used to collect and
FIG. 1 Components of the En Core Sampler
D 6418
FIG. 2 Reusable Attachments to the En Core Sampler
store the sample. Subsampling from the En Core devices 6.4.1 Before collecting a sample in the En Core sampler, the
should not be performed to obtain smaller sample sizes for plunger rod (see Fig. 1) should be positioned so that the
analysis. plunger can be moved freely from the top to the bottom of the
6.2 If volatile contaminant levels in the soil being sampled
coring body/storage chamber. For sample collection, the
are not known, it is recommended that three samples be T-handle (see Fig. 2) should be attached to the sampler, and the
collected at each sampling location using three En Core
plunger should be positioned so that the bottom of the plunger
samplers. If determination of moisture content is required for
is flush with the bottom of the coring body/storage chamber.
reporting sample results on a dry weight basis, a fourth sample
This prevents air from being trapped in the device during
should be collected from each sampling location using a
sample collection. When inserting a coring device into a
suitable container. The proper sample preparation method for
surface for sample collection, air should not be trapped behind
,
5 6
low-level or high-level volatile analysis can be determined
the sample. If this occurs, air can pass through the soil causing
by screening one of the three samples collected in the En Core
VOCs to be lost, or it can cause the sample to be prematurely
samplers for high or low concentrations of VOCs. If a high
pushed from the coring device.
concentration is present, one of the remaining samples in the
6.4.2 Sample collection should be performed as quickly as
En Core devices can be extruded into methanol for high-level
possible. Using the T-handle, push the En Core sampler into the
analysis; if a low concentration is present, the two remaining
soil until the coring body/storage chamber is completely full. It
samples in the En Core devices can be extruded into two
can be verified that the coring body/storage chamber is full by
appropriate vials for low-level analysis giving an additional
looking into the appropriate viewing hole (either 5 or 25-g) in
low-level sample for analysis, if needed. For guidance on
the T-handle (see Fig. 2). The coring body/storage chamber is
sample collection, sample handling, and sample preparation
completely full if the small O-ring on the plunger rod (see Fig.
methods for volatile organic analysis, see Practice D 4547. For
1) is centered in the T-handle viewing hole. If possible, look at
quality assurance considerations related to field sampling, see
the viewing hole while the device is in the soil to check if the
Guide D 4687.
coring body/storage chamber is completely full. If it is not
6.3 As stated in 4.8, the En Core device cannot be used for
possible to view the hole when the device is in the soil, remove
sampling cemented material, consolidated material, or material
the sampler from the soil to view the hole. If the coring
having fragments coarse enough to interfere with proper coring
body/storage chamber is not completely full, quickly insert the
techniques.
device back into the same sampling spot and push harder to fill
6.4 Sample Collection—The manufacturer’s specific in-
the coring body/storage chamber. When the coring body/
structions for operating the En Core sampler and T-handle to
storage chamber is completely full, scrape a spatula across the
collect a soil sample should be followed. The steps involved in
bottom of the coring body/storage chamber so the surface of
sample collection using the En Core sampler are given below.
the soil in the sampler is flush with the opening of the coring
body/storage chamber (see Note 2). Quickly wipe the external
surface of the coring body/storage chamber with a clean tissue
U.S. EPA, 1996, Method 5035: Closed-System Purge-and-Trap and Extraction
for Volatile Organics in Soil and Waste Samples. Test Methods for Evaluating Solid
or cloth. After ensuring that the sealing surfaces are clean, cap
Waste: Physical/Chemical Methods (SW-846), Vol 1B, Final Update III.
the coring body/storage chamber while it is still on the
U.S. EPA, 1996, Method 5021: Volatile Organic Compounds in Soils and Other
T-handle. This is done by gently sliding the cap onto the coring
Solid Matrices Using Equilibrium Headspace Analysis. Test Methods for Evaluating
Solid Waste: Physical/Chemical Methods (SW-846), Vol 1B, Final Update III. body/storage chamber with a twisting motion. The cap is
D 6418
locked into position when the grooves on the locking arms seat ing the En Core sampler and extrusion tool to extrude the soil
over the ridge on the coring body/storage chamber (see Fig. 1). sample from the coring body/storage chamber should be
If the cap of the En Core sampler is difficult to lock into followed. The steps involved in sample extrusion from the En
position, the O-ring in the cap (see Fig. 1) may be bent out of Core sampler are outlined in 6.7.1.
position, and a new cap should be used to seal the device. A 6.7.1 At the laboratory, the soil is transferred into the
bent O-ring in the cap may result in loss of VOCs from the appropriate container without disturbing the integrity of the
stored sample (see X1.1.8.2 and X1.1.9.2). After the cap is sample by removing the cap from the coring body/storage
locked into position, the T-handle is removed from the sampler, chamber and using the plunger to expel the soil into the
and the plunger is locked into position by rotating the plunger receiving container (see Note 3). This is done by performing
rod (see manufacturer’s specific operating instructions). the following steps according to the manufacturer’s specific
operating instructions: attach the extrusion tool (see Fig. 2) to
NOTE 2—For drier soils that are difficult to compact in the sampler,
the En Core sampler; rotate the extrusion tool plunger knob
scraping a spatula across the surface of the soil to make it flush with the
into position for sample extrusion; unlock the locking arms of
opening of the coring body/storage chamber may loosen particles of the
the cap; carefully remove the cap from the sampler; and, push
soil in the coring body/storage chamber. These particles may scatter when
the device is capped and may affect the seal between the cap and coring
down on the plunger knob of the extrusion tool (see Fig. 2) to
body/storage chamber (see X1.1.9
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