En Core® FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions For the En Core® Sampler
General Sampler Questions
- Does the En Core® Sampler work in tight clay?
- Does the En Core® Sampler work in sand?
- Does the En Core® Sampler work in rocks?
- Does the En Core® Sampler work with down-hole sampling methods?
- How do I know if the En Core® Sampler is full?
- How do I know if the cap is on properly?
- What is the status with hold times?
General Sampler Questions
Q. Does the En Core® Sampler work in tight clay?
The En Core® excels in sampling tight soils. A cutting edge was designed into the front of the body. Push and twist the sampler into the clay to take a core sample.
Q. Does the En Core® Sampler work in sand?
The En Core® cannot be used to sample sand in the normal way since dry sand will not form a cohesive plug. Pull the plunger back to form an o-ring seal on the back end of the body and scoop or push sand into the sampler. When the cap is attached, the sand will be kept in a headspace-free state.
Q. Does the En Core® Sampler work in rocks?
The En Core® sampler does not work with rocks. Rocks are a difficult matrix to sample no matter what approach is used. We would recommend that you have some methanol available if you need to sample rocks. You may need to break up the rocks to get a sufficiently small sample.
Q. Does the En Core® Sampler work with down-hole sampling methods?
At the present time, the En Core® does not work with down hole sampling. You must bring the soil core or split spoon to the surface and quickly take a sample.
Q. How do I know if the En Core® Sampler is full?
There is a viewing hole in the handle. The o-ring on the plunger will show in the viewing hole when soil has pushed the plunger fully to the back. However, there is another check you should make on every sample. The plunger can only be rotated when it is fully pushed to the back of the body. If you can twist the plunger, you have guaranteed that the soil has filled the sampler and the back o-rings have sealed.
Q. How do I know if the cap is on properly?
When you put the cap on, it is important that you twist the cap as you push it on. The cap is properly sealed when the two locking arms are completely and symmetrically over the body ridge. This means the cap is sealed.
Q. What is the status with hold times?
Currently, the hold time is 48 hours. This means that the soil must be placed in a preservative before the end of the 48 hour period. Some regulatory agencies have approved extended hold times. Check with your regulatory agency.