Oil in Soil Screening Kit

The OIL-IN-SOIL™ field screening test kit is an inexpensive, simple, and rapid qualitative sampling test for identifying the presence of hydrocarbons, including LNAPLs and DNAPLs, in soil.  The OIL-IN-SOIL™ test kit is a visually enhanced version of the old Soil-Water Shake Test for the presence of oils and petroleum products. Users add soil to a line on the label, add water to another line on the label, and shake the jar to release the dyes. 

The Kit comes in 3 colors: One kit uses the original SUDAN IV, which colors the hydrocarbon red.  The OIL-IN-SOIL™ Kits also come in a Royal Blue color called OIL-IN-SOIL™RB. A colored ring or spot indicates the presence of oil or petroleum at above 2,500 ppm.TPH). A Styrofoam ball turning pink or light blue, depending on the dye used, will indicate hydrocarbon down to 500 ppm. Many DNAPLs will give indications below 10 ppm because of their ability to penetrate the styrene used in the jar.

Application:
The OIL-IN-SOIL™ field screening test kits are useful tools for reducing the cost of Phase I and Phase II site assessments by reducing the time and costs associated with delineating the perimeter, depth, and direction of spills in soil. They are also often used with core samples to identify organic substances.

Environmental Benefits:
Rapid delineation of hydrocarbons and DNAPL spill boundaries in soil results in more rapid removal of contaminants from the environment. The OIL-IN-SOIL™ kit uses a de minimus quantity of Sudan IV, which is encapsulated in a soluble cube – thus decreasing the hazards to the test user from airborne particulate Sudan IV and overcoming the problems associated with the disposal of larger quantities of a mutagenic dye. We have recently switched to a new manufacturer whose dye is non-mutagenic.

Performance:
The OIL-IN-SOIL™ kits provide an inexpensive, consistent tool for detecting hydrocarbons (+- 500 ppm TPH) in soil. They are easy to use and require minimal training – thus reducing the need for ongoing, expensive technical support on-site. The OIL-IN-SOIL™ kits have been sold commercially for several years. They are used for Phase I and Phase II site assessments by most major environmental companies and several utility companies throughout the USA.

Simple as 1, 2, 3:

1. Add soil to the first line on the label.
2. Add water to the second line on the label.
3. Close and shake the jar to release the dyes and observe the color change.