How does one sample hot soil?
If practical, we recommend using direct push technology (DPT) to collect soil samples. A brass or Teflon(TM) sleeve is required due to the soil temperatures. The soil sample is immediately capped, a meat thermometer is pushed through the cap, and the capped sample is placed on ice. When the soil has cooled to below ambient temperatures, the sleeve is cut open and an analysis sub sample is collected from near the center of the core barrel. Groundwater monitoring wells must be constructed of stainless steel to withstand the applied subsurface temperatures. A Teflon(TM) tube is inserted through the well cap into the well to the appropriate sample depth. The upper end of the sample tube is connected to a stainless steel cooling coil at the surface. The cooling coil is immersed in ice water during sampling. Groundwater is pulled up through the tube and cooling coil and the cool groundwater is used to fill the sample containers. TRS developed the above procedures. They have become the indust
