Product Catalogue ALS EUROPE (SOIL/SLUDGE/SEDIMENT)

Importance of the topic

Soil, sludge, and sediment analysis play a crucial role in environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, and risk assessment. These matrices can accumulate pollutants from industrial, agricultural, and urban activities, impacting ecosystem health and human safety. Reliable, multidimensional testing ensures data quality for decision-making in remediation, land reuse, and pollution control.

Objectives and overview of the catalogue

The ALS Soil/Sludge/Sediment Product Catalogue provides a detailed menu of analytical services available across Europe. It aims to offer clients a one-stop resource for selecting methods, understanding detection limits, sample requirements, and turnaround options. The catalogue covers a broad spectrum of physical, chemical, microbiological, biological, ecotoxicological, and radiochemical parameters.

Methodology and instrumentation used

ALS leverages accredited, state-of-the-art instrumentation to deliver robust results:

• Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for multi-elemental analysis
• Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) and Atomic Fluorescence for mercury
• Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Flame Ionisation (GC-FID), Electron Capture (GC-ECD)
• Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for pesticides and pharmaceuticals
• High-Resolution GC-MS for ultra-trace organics (dioxins, PCBs, PBDEs)
• Ion Chromatography for anions and speciation (Cr(III/VI), cyanide)
• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for petroleum hydrocarbons
• Capillary Electrophoresis for small organic acids
• Microbiological assays and ecotoxicity bioassays (Microtox, Daphnia, algae, plants)
• Gamma spectrometry and radiochemistry for radionuclides
• Passive sampling devices for in situ metal monitoring

Main results and discussion

The catalogue is structured into major analytical groups:

• Indicator and inorganic parameters: pH, conductivity, nutrient, and anion profiles
• Grain size and physical properties: particle distribution, dry matter, loss on ignition
• Microbiology: enumeration of key pathogens and indicator organisms
• Elemental analysis: CHNS content, major and trace metals in three ICP-OES/MS groups
• Organic contaminants: VOCs (EPA 8260), PAHs, pesticides, PCBs, petroleum hydrocarbons, organotins, phenols, phthalates
• Ecotoxicology: acute and chronic tests on aquatic and terrestrial species, phytotoxicity, nitrification inhibition
• Radiochemistry: gross alpha/beta, specific radionuclides by HRGS and radiometric techniques
• Emerging analytics: PFAS screening and Total Oxidisable Precursor (TOP) assay

This breadth of parameters supports comprehensive risk assessments and compliance with regulations such as the EU Water Framework Directive and national sludge or sediment quality standards.

Benefits and practical applications of the methods

The ALS network of ISO/IEC 17025 laboratories across Europe ensures:

• Consistent data quality through accredited methods and inter-laboratory validation
• Flexible sample intake: field logistics, inter-office transfers, and express (“ALS Quick”) services
• Customized packages for specific regulatory or industrial needs
• Rapid decision-making enabled by low detection limits and timely reporting
• Holistic view of contamination through combined chemical, biological, and radiological testing

Applications span environmental monitoring, waste management, remediation verification, agricultural land application, industrial process control, and research.

Future trends and possible applications

Advances shaping the field include:

• Passive sampling approaches for time-weighted average metal bioavailability
• Expanded PFAS analytics beyond PFOS/PFOA to polyfluorinated precursors using TOP assay
• High-resolution mass spectrometry for non-target screening of emerging pollutants
• Integration of bioassays with chemical profiling for effect-directed analysis
• Data analytics and LIMS integration to support big-data approaches in environmental forensics

These trends will enhance our capacity to detect trace and emerging contaminants and to link chemical presence with biological effects.

Conclusion

The ALS Soil/Sludge/Sediment Product Catalogue offers a comprehensive suite of accredited analytical and ecotoxicological methods tailored to diverse environmental challenges. By combining advanced instrumentation, managed turnaround options, and a pan-European laboratory network, ALS supports reliable, high-resolution data for regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and sustainable land and resource management.

References

ALS Soil/Sludge/Sediment Product Catalogue, ALS Life Sciences Europe, 2023