Soil & Sediment Testing
We assess, investigate and test soils and construction materials so as to provide optimum solutions
Overview of Soil & Sediment Testing
Our services encompass chemical, physical, and biological characterisation to meet Ecoprime’s principles. Routine analyses include microbial biomass, particle size analysis, and organic carbon content on soils and sediments and TOC, BOD, and water nutrients (such as ammonia and nitrate, among others) on water. Results are provided to the customer as a study report.
Our soil scientists provide a water, sediment, and soil analysis service for various research organisations and agrochemical, chemical, and pharmaceutical clients. Our laboratory offers a range of chemical, physical, and biological analysis on soil, sediment, and water to meet regulatatory requirements.
Our Key Soil and Sediment Testing Services
Contaminant Analysis (PAHs, TPHs, BTEX and Heavy Metals)
Ecoprime offers a full consultancy, sampling and physical, chemical, microbiological testing service in compliance with applicable regulations.Our offer also includes testing manures and fertilizers produced by the chemical industry or coming from biological treatment, composting and biogas production processes.
As regards testing sediments, that is a complex environmental matrix, as sediments include both materials coming from rocks and from human activities. There are several possible contamination sources. Preliminary evaluations for remediation activities should also take into account inorganic compounds such as heavy metals and inorganic molecules like PCBs, dioxins, hydrocarbons and pesticides. In addition, the microbiological testing allows to identify and quantify pollutants coming from sewage and, in general, waste water.
Soil Fertility Testing
At Ecoprime Services Limited, our comprehensive soil analysis services are designed to support farmers, agronomists, and researchers in optimizing soil health and maximizing crop productivity. Understanding your soil is the first step to achieving better yields and more efficient land management.
We tailor our tests, reports and recommendations to the unique needs of agribusinesses and growers.
Typical analysis workflow
Step 1: Sample Collection & Preservation
Proper collection in appropriate containers (e.g., glass, often amber to protect light-sensitive PAHs) and storage at 4°C are crucial to minimize compound loss (especially volatile BTEX) or degradation.
Step 2: Sample Preparation/Extraction
Contaminants must be extracted from the matrix (soil, water, air) into a suitable solvent. Common methods include liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid-phase extraction (SPE) and Soxhlet extraction,etc.
Step 3: Sample Clean Up & Processing
Extracts often contain interfering compounds (e.g., lipids or sulfur in soil) that need to be removed using techniques like silica gel or alumina column chromatography before analysis
Step 4: Instrumental Analysis & Results
The cleaned extract is analyzed using sensitive and selective analytical instruments for identification and quantification.
Find out the testing and services offered by Ecoprime Services
Services for Soils and Sediments
- Underground soil and water accredited sampling in line with UNICHIM Manual No 196/2:2004
- Agronomic testing
- Remediation soils
- Ecotoxicological testing
- Sediment testing
- Soil characterisation
- Drilled core testing
- Testing excavated soils and rocks in construction sites in line with Italian Presidential Decree No 120/2017
- Granulometric curves and soil geotechnical classification
- Drilling fluids
- Testing leachates (leaching test)
- Testing manures and fertilisers
- Testing sludge for agricultural disposal and soil improvers
- Testing compost to use in agriculture
- Testing interstitial soil gases
- Consultancy
- Training
Testing Soils and Sediments
- Chemical testing such as heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs, hydrocarbons (MADEP and TPHCWG speciation, PAH), pesticides, radioactivity, microelements, organotin compounds
- Microbiological testing
- Physical testing such as soil texture and geotechnical determinations according to UNI CEN ISO/TS 17892:
- Water content (W)
- Attemberg limits
- Retained fraction at 0.4 mm
- Liquid limit (wL)
- Plastic limit (wP)
- Plasticity index (PI)
- Liquidity index (LI)
- Consistency index (CI)
- Relationship between water content and penetration of the conical tip
- Density in the anhydrous and wet state
- Mass of the granules (pycnometer)
- Granulometric distribution and effective porosity