Australian soil contamination detector launched in US

RemScan, a handheld detector that reduces both the cost and time taken to remediate sites contaminated by petroleum products, has been launched to market in the United States. Petroleum contamination as a result of leaking tanks or industrial spills is a widespread global issue with potentially serious impacts for human and environmental health.

Developed by CSIRO and industry partner Ziltek, the device uses an infrared signal to directly measure petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil, giving a result in around 20 seconds. Traditional methods involve sending soil samples to a laboratory and waiting days for results; thus, the device will enable industry to quickly and accurately close projects or declare sites contaminant-free, saving the environmental remediation industry millions of dollars per year in laboratory and project costs globally.

The RemScan device uses an infrared signal to directly measure petroleum contamination in soil. (Image: Ziltek.)

The product can be used as a quick in-field screening tool to characterise contaminated sites, validate spill clean-up areas or monitor ongoing contaminant degradation. In remote areas, where laboratory analysis is either not available or is prohibitively expensive, the instrument is particularly useful. As well as providing quantitative measurement of diesel, oil and crude products in soil, it can also be used as a screening tool for lighter fuels such as jet fuel and gasoline.

The  device can measure petroleum contamination in soil with a simple pull of the trigger. (Image: Ziltek.)

Successfully commercialised in Australia by Ziltek in 2012, the product is now in use by the mining industry and the oil and gas industries in various Australian states. CSIRO holds the recently accepted US patent for the RemScan method, which is licensed exclusively to Ziltek for global distribution. CSIRO is continuing to work with Ziltek to extend the technology to enable rapid detection of other soil contaminants apart from oil.

Measuring petroleum hydrocarbons in soil cores. (Image: Ziltek.)

Ziltek recently engaged the services of Battelle, an independent testing organisation in the US, to test the accuracy and usability of the technology. Results of this study will be announced at the Ninth International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds, being held this week in California, to accompany the US launch of the product.

The conference will attract scientists, engineers, regulators and other environmental professionals from universities, government, regulatory agencies, R&D and manufacturing firms from more than 30 countries. According to Ziltek Managing Director Dr Richard Stewart, it is “regarded as the cornerstone event for the global remediation industry”.