New technique for in situ sampling of particulate matter and colloids in soil and atmospheric fallout

Abstract

This note describes a new technique for in situ sampling of fine particulate matter (PM) including colloids in natural environments. The technique is based on a microlysimeter which is easy to move between field and laboratory and can be routinely used for in situ monitoring. The design of the device aims at limiting bias and artefacts encountered with current sampling methods based on successive field collection of liquid samples, transport, storage and filtration in the laboratory. Samples are directly collected on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids, thus totally eliminating the modifications classically due to handling of samples from collection to analysis. Detailed physical and chemical microscopic studies of individual particles can then be performed in order to fully characterize PM in natural media such as soil solutions, atmospheric fallout, rainfall and any aquatic system. This technique can be applied in a number of research fields, such as the characterization and determination of pollution vectors, the tracing of sources of emissions, or investigations on particle interactions.

Changes in soil properties in a fluvisol (calcaric) amended with coal fly ash

“…At the bottom of the filtration cell were placed successively a pyroxylin 5 µm filter, a layer of fibreglass, and a bed of inert silica balls consisting a mixture of 30% of balls less than 100 µm diameter and 70% of 100 µm diameter, a second bed of silica balls with 70% of balls less than 100 µm diameter and 30% of balls of 100 µm diameter; the whole set allows creating a suction gradient and homogenizing the drainage of the percolating water. In that way, no barrier is created and the capillary force is normal or slightly positive (Perdrial et al, 2008).…”

Temporal and spatial monitoring of mobile nanoparticles in a vineyard soil: evidence of nanoaggregate formation

“…Particles from soil infiltration water for TEM‐EDX analysis were collected with the microlysimeter device described in Perdrial et al (2008a). This device is based on in situ filtration of soil water and direct collection of particles on a TEM grid.…”

“… Description of the sampling device: (a) construction of the microlysimeter, (b) cross‐section of the field installation (after Perdrial et al , 2008a). …”