Evaluating the Hanby Test Kits for Screening Soil and
Groundwater for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Field Demonstration
ALAN D. HEWITT
INTRODUCTION
program. The contamination that remains in these
This report covers the results of a technology dem-
biopile and phytoremediation test plots is principally
onstration designed to assess the capabilities of the
the petroleum hydrocarbons that are classified as
Hanby Test Kits, in conjunction with three methods of
residual range organics (RRO). At these two locations,
analysis, to estimate the amount of total petroleum
only soil samples were collected. The QA samples con-
hydrocarbon (TPH) contamination in environmental
sisted of matrix blanks, sample duplicates, matrix spike
samples. This kit was evaluated under the guidelines
samples, and performance evaluation (PE) samples.
of the Rapid Commercialization Initiative, with addi-
The Hanby Test Kits use the Friedel-Crafts
tional oversight from the California Environmental
alklyation reactions with hydrocarbons, principally aro-
Technology Certification Program (California Environ-
matic hydrocarbons, to produce a color on the surface
mental Protection Agency 1998), at the Naval Construc-
of a catalyst that can be interpreted by visual inspec-
tion Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, California, an
tion or by instrumental analysis. For this study, the
Advance Fuel Hydrocarbon National Environmental
resultant color for each sample was quantified by a
Technology Test Site. The test plans for this field exer-
visual comparison to a set of photographs and by two
cise were prepared by the Naval Facilities Engineering
different field-portable spectrophotometers, i.e., the
Service Center that is located on this base (U.S. Navy
H.E.L.P. Mate 2010 and 2000 (HM 2010 and HM 2000).
1999). For this evaluation, 90 samples were distributed
Here the accuracy, precision, and reliability of these
over a 2.5-day period for on-site analysis and data
technologies are evaluated.
reduction.
The field and quality assurance (QA) samples used
in this evaluation included both soils and groundwater
TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION
matrices. Field contaminated soil samples were obtained
from three different locations and groundwater samples
All three analytical methods developed for use with
were collected at two of these locations. Each place
the Hanby Test Kits measure the intensity of visible
represented a different range of TPH contamination.
colors that form when aromatic compounds have an
One sampling location was within a contaminant plume
alkylhalide group attached to them through the Friedel-
resulting from an underground release of gasoline. The
Crafts alkylation reaction process. Because petroleum-
hydrocarbons at this site are gasoline range organic
based fuels, oils, and solvents contain aromatic com-
(GRO) compounds. Another location was within a
pounds, the resultant reaction products can be used to
plume resulting from leaks in the plumbing and the
estimate the TPH concentration in contaminated
unlined sumps at an above-ground fuel farm, where
samples. The reagents used in the Hanby Test Kits are
diesel and bunker C fuel had been stored. The hydro-
aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) as the catalyst and car-
carbons at this site are, for the most part, diesel range
bon tetrachloride (CCl4) as the source of alkyl
organic (DRO) compounds. The remaining sampling
(alkylhalide) groups that are attached to the aromatic
locations were two test plots in an on-going remediation
hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene, toluene, xylenes, phenan-
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