Multiphase extraction sampling of explosives in unsaturated soils

Abstract

Detection of Explosive Related Chemicals (ERCs) emanating from landmines is strongly influenced by fate and transport processes in variably saturated soils, which are affected by many environmental factors. To study the fate and transport behavior of ERCs in soils, it is necessary to conduct experiments is physical models designed for this purpose. Sampling and analysis of the chemicals in soil water and air is one of the most important components of this design.In this project, air and water sampling devices and methods for sampling TNT and DNT in a tropical sandy soil were studied. Different stainless steel porous samplers were evaluated to determine sampling volumes and efficiencies. Results show that they can be used with proper extraction vacuum and pore size depending on soil water content. The stainless steel porous samplers show no or little effect of the sampling efficiencies of TNT and DNT.