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Resin Capsules for Soil and Environmental Testing

From UNIBEST Inc.
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A UNIBEST PST-1 resin capsule adsorbs chemical elements (as ions) from the soil solution (the water in a moist soil) like a plant root.

A UNIBEST ENV resin capsule adsorbs organics that are in the soil from both the liquid and vapor phases.

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[Benifits][Applications] [Physical Characteristics][Testing Protocol] [Performance]
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PST-1 Capsule
A Technology Providing Simple,
Accurate Measure of Elemental
Bioavailability

UNIBEST, Inc. Resin Capsule

2-cm (0.75-inches)
diameter

U.S. Patent 5,355,736
Made in the U.S.A.

ENV Capsule
Targets Organic Chemicals
In situ Solid Phase Extraction
(ISSPE) Technology
Detect, Monitor, & Quantify
Potassium
Sulfur
Phosphorus
NO3-N
NH4-N
Calcium
Magnesium		 Sodium
Manganese
Iron
Zinc
Copper
Lead
Mercury

And Others
  • Chlorinated Industrial Solvents
  • Hydrocarbons
    • Gasoline
    • Other Petroleum Compounds
  • Pesticides
  • Organic-Heavy Metal Complexes
  • Soil Humics
  • Gases (aliphatics and aromatics)

Benefits

PST-1

ENV Series

Reduces lab cost by 50 to 70%
Eliminates lab testing steps (drying, grinding,
weighing and multiple extractions)		 Reduces testing costs by 30 to 50%
Passive in situ tests for natural conditions
Improves detection by concentrating over time
Sensitive to liquid, dissolved, or gas phases
Simultaneous, "universal" adsorption
All available elements accumulated by a
single capsule
Nutrients and contaminant levels revealed 		Monitor or quantify simply
No need for elaborate equipment
Identify chemicals

Applications

Use in the laboratory
Simple straight-forward protocols
Use on "field fresh" samples		 Contaminant testing for organics in soil, vadose zone,
water & gas
Excellent detection of hydrocarbon vapors in soils
Monitor in situ remediation progress
Easily determine types and relative amounts of organics
Use in the field
Continuous in situ monitoring

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Physical Characteristics and Specifications

Size:
Shelf Life:
Construction:
Materials:
Storage Conditions:
Sensitivity:		 2-cm (0.75 inch); Weight: <10 grams
Indefinite.  Resin may be rejuvenated if it dries out
Spherical ball of resin encapsulated in a mesh plastic fabric
Chemically stable in most media
Cool, but not below freezing
Mostly in the microgram range

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PST-1
Abbreviated Testing Protocol

ENV Series
Abbreviated Testing Protocol

  1. Mix soil sample as saturated paste.
  2. Place capsule in about 50mL subsample
  3. Remove and rinse after 1 - 4 days
  4. Extract capsule with 50 mL 2M HCl
  5. Analyze for all target elements
  6. Use saturated paste for other determinations
  7. Correlate test results with data base
  1. Place capsule in testing medium in situ
  2. Remove capsule after prescribed time
  3. Remove all foreign residue
  4. Transport to lab in inert, sealed container
  5. Desorb using solvent or thermal method
  6. Conduct gas chromatography or other analysis
  7. Correlate test results to user data base
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Performance

Features...

Advantages...

Benefits...

PST-1
1. Simultaneously adsorbs all ions: Measures the availability of elements to a plant. Now you can see the soil chemistry like a plant.
2. Measures rate of bioavailability: Calibrate to specific plant and soil. Use to identify appropriate plantings.
3. Sensitive to soil properties: Learn about rates of chemical processes. Develop long term management programs.
4. Works in all kinds of soils A universal test for all regions and ecosystems. Easily transfer data base to new sites.
5. Laboratory or in situ use: Simple protocols for moist or dry soils. Observe natural conditions.
ENV Series
1. Test for all organics simultaneously: Identify chemicals that are present. Know range to manage.
2. In situ, direct evaluation: Test wells, flowing water, or wet soil. Using one anlalytical procedure permits direct comparison of results.
3. Follow remediation progress: Repeated, "point sampling" des not destroy the sample. Know what happens at one point through time.
4. Vapor-phase application: Results reflect vapor transfer conditions. No elaborate equipment.
5. Simple, reproducible protocol: Use for intensive or extensive surveys. Lower monitoring costs, especially for remote sites.
6. Testing under natural influences: environment influences - permits practical remediation permits practical remediation
In Situ Monitoring with WECSA Soil Access System
1. Non-destructive sampling: Elimate the effects of site variability for successive samples. Makes repeat sampling at the same point easy and accurate.
2. Evaluate natural environment: Measure actual on site and in situ conditions. See soil as a plant does.
3. Angled access tube installation: Maintain a natural sample point. Data are not compromised.
4. Very easy to use: Quickly change capsules. End the drudgery of collecting soil samples.
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UNIBEST, Inc. * PO Box 5059 * Bozeman, Montana  59717
Phone: (406) 587-4630 * Fax: (406) 587-4870
Email: eskogley@montana.com
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Gordon Warrington
WECSA
419 Flathead, Unit 3
PO Box 489
Saint Ignatius  MT  59865-0489
U.S.A.

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Gordon@wecsa.com
Phone  (406) 745-0160
Last Update 2-2-2006
Copyright 1998 - 2006