Scroll down this page to see the latest news happening at Sitelab Corporation.  From new and improved products to unique customer applications, stay tuned to this web page.

U.S. Gulf Coast Oil Spill, 1-Year Later:

     In April 2011, Sitelab received a group of samples collected from Perdidio Key in Pensacola, Florida.  The samples included beach sand and several fragments of tar balls washed ashore resulting from the BP oil spill from one year before.  Beach samples were collected from the surface down to two feet deep, at both high tide and low tide in the same area where clean up crews made their daily visit.

     The samples were analyzed by Sitelab using our UVF-3100D and TD-500D instruments.  Results show the tar balls did not appear to leave any residual oil in the sand.  Despite the distance and time spent at sea, these tar balls fluoresced very similar to other tar balls tested by Sitelab.  The link below shows a very detailed report highlighting results from different sites along the Gulf of Mexico.

»Sitelab's Petroleum Hydrocarbons Analysis from the Gulf Coast Oil Spill

Sitelab evaluated by BP's Deepwater Horizon Response Team:

    Summary of the final evaluation report for Sitelab's portable petroleum contamination test kits states: "Key Conclusions: Established technology for detecting oil in both water and soil applications.  We have communicated these results to the Deepwater Horizon MC252 Incident Command Posts with a request that they give consideration to the use of your technology."  See link below to download this report.

»See BP report dated August 4, 2010

Concerned about the Gulf Coast Oil Spill?

     Warren Nance of Gulfport, Mississippi, is a local resident who has started a grass-roots effort to monitor the pre-impact and post-impact effects of crude oil contamination resulting from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Samples were carefully collected and shipped to Sitelab for laboratory analysis.  Samples of sediment, water, cord grass and mussels were collected from a marsh located several miles north of Dauphin Island, Alabama, which was not yet polluted. Samples of tar balls and dispersant washed up on the beach were also collected and tested.  See image to right for details.

U.S. EPA's TRIAD Community of Practice:

     Presentation given to members of the CoP entitled "Laboratory Certification for Triad Analytical methods," presented by Stu Nagourney, New Jersey DEP and Steve Greason, Sitelab Corporation.  The CoP includes a long list of top minds, scientists and regulators who promote and manage the Triad program.

Student showcases Sitelab at Manufactured Gas Plant conference:

     15-year old Morgan Sinko is a high school student from San Antonio, Texas, who used Sitelab in 2009 as part of his school science fair (scroll down this page for details) and then again in 2010, where he had considerable success for his project titled "Double Agents: R rhodochrous and Linoleic Acid as Bioremediation Agents of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Diesel Contaminated Soil."  In all, Morgan won a number of special awards, $34,600 in college scholarships and received the 5th grand prize out of 600 applicants in the state finals competition.  Morgan presented his science fair data and the products he used for Sitelab analysis at the EPRI MGP Symposium.

     »See our PAH Case Study for MGP site showing accuracy to EPA Method 8270

State regulatory agency certifies Sitelab Corporation:

     The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is the first state regulatory agency in the country to approve and certify the use of field analytical methods as part of their "Triad Approach," without compromising data quality and reliability.  Using UVF for real-time measurement is one such technique that can result in more time and cost effective site characterization and cleanup.  NJ DEP's Office of Quality Assurance performed an on-site audit and required Sitelab to prepare a very thorough QA/QC package as part of their Environmental Laboratory Certification Program (ELCP).

     “We do work in NJ currently and having this UVF method as a certified field method is an advantage for sites with petroleum hydrocarbon contamination."  Nancy Rothman, Ph.D, CEO & Principal Scientist, New Environmental Horizons, Inc.    

»Visit the NJ DEP Site Remediation Program's Triad website for more information

UVF training course provided to Licensed Site Professionals:

     In March and September 2009, Sitelab Corporation provided it's UVF training course to Licensed Site Professionals at Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts.  Both courses were sponsored by the LSP Association.  Sitelab is State approved to provide a 4-hour, continuing education credited course called "Field Screening Petroleum Hydrocarbons Using Ultraviolet Fluorescence Technology."

     Participants learn how UVF technology works, it's applications and limitations, as well as hands-on experience testing soil, water and LNAPL samples.  Click the image to learn more about this event, download Sitelab's presentation and get speaker profile information.

Testing TPH using the TD-500D analyzer at the Lumwana Copper Mine in Zambia...

     First commissioned in 2008, the Lumwana Mine is the largest copper mine in Africa.  Owned by Equinox Minerals, Ltd, this open-cut mine is located in the north west province of Zambia.  The mine cost $765 million to build, employs 1,000 people and is expected to produce 20 million tons of ore per year over a 37 year life span.  Scientists have been using Sitelab's hand held TD-500D analyzer and test kits to measure hundreds of soil samples contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons resulting from their mining operations.

Kids use Sitelab for School Science Fairs:

     Each year, high schools from around the US participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where students design and carry out experiments, some of which require laboratory analysis.  Using field screening tools like the UVF-3100 and TD-500 analyzers, provides the participants with the accurate and reliable data they need in order to be successful, while also providing fun, hands-on analytical experience.  Winners from local, regional and state science fair competitions advance to the international championship, where 1,600 finalists representing 50 countries participate and compete for nearly $4 million dollars in awards and scholarships.  Sponsored by Intel Corporation, ISEF has been coordinated since 1950 by the Society for Science and the Public in Washington, DC, one of the most respected non-profit organizations advancing the cause of science.

Consultant creates 3-D map showing subsurface contamination:

     Subsurface Environmental Solutions, LLC (Andover, MA) provides advanced site assessment services employing state of the art field technology, innovative analysis techniques, and detailed planning.  The result is a site characterization data base specifically designed to allow reliable strategic decision making and site restoration design, while meeting applicable regulatory requirements.  This three dimensional LNAPL plume visualization was created by SES using 75 test results reported by Sitelab during an environmental site investigation on a property once used to store heating oil, diesel fuel and gasoline.

Need to test metal, concrete or other surfaces for oil contamination?

     Surficial sampling and analysis is used to assess the existence and/or extent of oil contamination on various surfaces.  Applications include testing TPH wipe samples for residual oils coated on aluminum, steel or other metal parts after the manufacturing process.  Examples include testing ventilation ducts, fans and coils used in the HVAC industry or for checking medical implants and air pump devices used in the medical industry, where removing oil prior to use must be conducted for quality control.  A sample is collected by cleaning off a measured surface with a gauze pad and then extracting the pad in solvent.  The sample extract is then measured on either Sitelab's UVF-3100 or TD-500 analyzers, which are calibrated using the oil of interest.

TPH in water evaluation study:

     Sitelab evaluated it's UVF-3100 analyzer by testing 'whole volume' NELAC certified, water samples provided by Environmental Resource Associates (Arvada, CO).  ERA is a leading manufacturer of quality control and proficiency testing standards sold to environmental laboratories around the world.  The samples contained spiked concentrations of GRO, DRO and TPH in water.  Sitelab correlated well to the other laboratories who participated in the studies.

 Want to check octane at gasoline stations?

     Ever wonder if the gas you're putting in your car is legit?  That you pay for premium, super unleaded, but only get regular unleaded gas instead?  Sitelab has developed a quick, easy to use method for testing different grades of octane in commercial gasolines.  The higher the octane, the greater percentage of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons are added, which produce linear, higher fluorescence responses on the UVF-3100 analyzer.  Although UVF does not directly measure the octane itself, the data generated can be used for screening gasoline samples from one another in the field.  Octane can then be accurately estimated using Sitelab's unique software algorithms.  Results only take a few minutes and correlate well to the (R + M)/2 method.

Remediation firm uses Sitelab to help monitor treatment at TPH sites:

     VeruTEK® Technologies, Inc. (Bloomfield, CT) develops, formulate and markets safe and effective Green Chemistry and biological solutions and implementation technologies that eliminate the toxic and harmful effects of chemicals present in the environment.  Scientists at VeruTEK use Sitelab's UVF-3100 analyzer in their research laboratory.  In the first year since purchasing the equipment, VeruTek tested over a thousand soil and groundwater samples, collected from client sites located all over the world.

     “VeruTEK eliminates pollution through application of Best Available Technologies comprised of green chemistry.  Using Sitelab helps us be successful."  Catherine Miceli, Senior Project Manager

EPA TRIAD projects:

     Brownfield sites throughout the United States are benefiting from the use of Sitelab test kits when implementing the EPA's Triad approach, where systematic planning, real time measurements and dynamic work strategies improve environmental site characterization.  Redeveloping a  former power plant in Connecticut in 2003 is one such example.  EPA Region 1 and their Triad contractor, Tetra Tech (Boulder, CO), published a report.  Click the link below or see the case study to right:

Fingerprinting contaminated sites for GRO, DRO and PAHs:

     Not sure what your site is contaminated with?  The UVF-3100D analyzer's Target PAH optics are an integral part of Sitelab’s new fingerprinting method for hydrocarbon identification.  When used with the UVF-3100’s GRO and DRO analysis, the fluorescence signatures exhibited provides additional forensic screening data useful for delineating sites having unknown petroleum sources.

Need to test drilling muds and fluids for reuse or disposal?

     Oil based drilling fluids are using in the oil industry during oil exploration as a lubricant.  Disposing the muds overboard on offshore oil platforms, FPSOs or from land based oil rigs is regulated and requires monitoring.   The fluids are also expensive and it's common practice to reclaim the drilling fluids from the mud for reuse.  Sitelab's portable UVF analyzers are very sensitive to these types of hydrocarbons and can be used for on-site TPH analysis and decision making.  Samples can also be fingerprinted using Sitelab's instruments to distinguish between the drilling fluids and raw crude oil.   

Sitelab dealer & service provider in Libya and North Africa...

     Buisier Engineering specializes in dealing with the environmental challenges of the Libyan petroleum industry, using up to date American environmental protection Agency’s regulations, latest approved engineering standards and best technological practices in the field.  Dr. Mohamed Buisier and his staff sell and use Sitelab's products to customers serving Libya and northern Africa.

LNAPL forensic applications identify type or age of contamination:

     Are managing petroleum sites with subsurface plumes of free-product oil?  Need a fast, easy and affordable field method to help delineate the contamination?   This news story features Sitelab testing oils for their gasoline range (GRO) and diesel range (DRO) content on a large tank farm site contaminated with Non Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPLs).  The proportions of GRO and DRO varied throughout the site, providing helpful forensic information for the client.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection acceptance letter:

     The State DEP's Bureau of Petroleum Storage Systems, located in Tallahassee, Florida, has accepted Sitelab's UVF-3100 as a field screening device for the measurement of petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in soil and groundwater as a result of Sitelab's performance during the U.S. EPA TPH in Soil evaluation study.

     "The Bureau, in accordance with it's Guidelines for Assessment and Source Removal of Petroleum Contaminated Soil, hereby recognizes the EPA verification test of the UVF-3100 as an alternative validation report."

Gold mine sites in Yellowknife, Canada:

     The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (DIAND) is using Sitelab test kits to investigate and cleanup old, abandoned gold mine sites throughout the Northwest Territories.  Most of the mines are contaminated by diesel fuel once used to provide heat and power in the remote artic conditions.

     DIAND and other customers in Canada use Sitelab's GRO and EDRO calibration kits with the UVF-3100 analyzer, which correlate well to the F1, F2 and F3 laboratory methods for reporting gasoline range, diesel range and oil range hydrocarbons, which are similar to U.S. EPA method 8015 using GC instrumentation.

Disclaimer: This is not a DIAND or Canadian Government endorsement for Sitelab or any of its products or subsidiaries.

Monitoring soils at thermal treatment facility in Australia:

     Innova Soil Technology, Ltd (Mayfield, NSW) has developed an innovative Thermal Desorption Process to allow safe, reliable and efficient on-site treatment of hydrocarbon contaminated soils.  They use Sitelab's UVF-3100 analyzer to test TPH and PAH contaminants in soil before and after the treatment process.

U.S. Navy uses Sitelab in Iraq:

     The Navy's Forward Deployable Preventive Medicine Units used Sitelab's UVF-3100 analyzers during Operation Iraqi Freedom to assist in ensuring the safety of critical drinking water supplies and screening soil at various base camps for the presence of PAHs.  According to Navy preventive medicine personnel...

"The turnaround time for analysis of water samples returned to laboratories in the United States is too long to effectively meet the Department of Defense's force health protection goals. Sitelab test kits provides a fast, accurate mechanism to screen for petroleum products and PAHs in drinking water and other environmental media in the field."

Have an application in the United Kingdom or Europe?

     STL On-Site Analysis, formally as Cybersense Biosystems, is Sitelab Corporation's dealer located in the UK.  STL sells Sitelab's products to end users and also provides on-site testing services for customers who want to hire the experts.  Severn Trent combines on-site tools with traditional, MCERTS accredited laboratory analysis, to enable informed decision making and reduce costs and plant/personnel downtime for their customers.

GRO evaluation study in Finland:

Environmental engineering award to EPA SITE program contractor:

     As part of the U.S. EPA SITE Program, under the direction of Dr. Kumar Topudurti of Tetra Tech EM Inc. in Chicago, Illinois.  Tetra Tech performed the first-ever comprehensive evaluation of field measurement devices for TPH measurement in soil.  To make sure that the evaluation produced practical and useful information for environmental scientists and engineers, Tetra Tech developed and implemented a comprehensive experimental design that was scientifically sound and statistically based.

»Click for full story

U.S. EPA publishes TPH in Soil Evaluation Report:

     In 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency completed a performance study called "Field Measurement Technologies for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil" by evaluating Sitelab and six other manufacturers through the Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) program.  Stakeholders and project participants included EPA Regions, Department of Defense, American Petroleum Institute, British Petroleum, Chevron, Equilon (Shell and Texaco) and ExxonMobil.  The project took two years to complete and cost nearly $1 million dollars.  Tetra Tech, Inc. managed the project.

Approved 4-hour credit training course available:

     Are you a Licensed Site Professional (LSP) performing work in Massachusetts?  Or a Licensed Environmental Professional (LEP) in Connecticut?  Need credits to renew your license?  Sitelab has been State approved to provide a 4-hour continuing education credited course called "Field Screening Petroleum Hydrocarbons Using Ultraviolet Fluorescence Technology."  Participants learn how UVF technology works, it's applications and limitations, as well as hands-on experience testing samples.

     Call or email Sitelab for details.  LSP Course No. 1203, LEP Course No. 096

Sitelab Corporation receives award by EPA Region 1:

     In 1999, New England’s Environmental Technology Innovator Award Program had chosen Sitelab Corporation and seven other winners from a pool of thirty-five applicants, as representing New England’s most innovative technologies.  The selection process was administered by EPA’s Regional Science Council. The council evaluated each application based on the following criteria: (1) the ability of the technology to address an environmental problem, (2) the ability of the claims to be verified, (3) field trial evaluations and (4) innovativeness.