PRIMA Environmental isn’t your typical laboratory. Some commonly asked questions about PRIMA and its services are answered here. If you still have questions, please contact us.
PRIMA is an independent laboratory that performs bench-scale treatability tests, unusual analyses, and custom laboratory work for the environmental community – services not offered by most analytical labs. Although PRIMA performs some analyses in-house, most analyses are subcontracted to certified analytical or geotechnical labs.
No—certification is not applicable to the type of laboratory work that PRIMA performs. However, PRIMA runs appropriate controls for all studies and follows appropriate QA/QC procedures for in-house analyses to ensure the highest quality data. Analyses not performed by PRIMA are sub-contracted to certified laboratories.
Bench-scale testing can save time and money and potentially limit liability by allowing you to evaluate a remediation technology under controlled laboratory conditions or by providing site-specific information so you do not have to rely solely on literature reports. For example, poor contaminant removal in an ISCO field pilot test may be due to engineering issues (poor contact between the oxidant and contaminant) or to chemical factors (insufficient or ineffective oxidant). A bench test will allow you to eliminate the chemical issues and focus on optimizing delivery of the oxidant. Bench testing can also help identify likely side effects of an in situ technology, thereby eliminating surprises in the field and possibly reducing the number of post-treatment analyses required. Finally, bench testing can provide site-specific inputs for risk assessment models, potentially supporting higher clean-up criteria.
PRIMA is an independent lab — we do not sell remediation products nor do we implement remediation technologies, so our test results are entirely impartial. We take pride in working closely with our clients to develop a test protocol that meets the specific needs of each project. These protocols may be unique or may be variations on our “standard” protocols. Bench testing is inherently uncertain therefore PRIMA pays close attention to each project and makes adjustments as needed to ensure that you get the most meaningful results possible. PRIMA provides exceptional client support throughout the design and testing phases and we conclude the project with a detailed report explaining all aspects of the study including our recommendation.
This is up to you. If you choose, PRIMA will design the test procedures necessary to address your situation and will ask only for your approval before beginning work. Alternatively, you may choose for PRIMA to work closely with you and other stakeholders to develop procedures that are acceptable to all parties. PRIMA can also perform tests that are described in the literature, such as measurement of Aquatic Humic Substances (Methods of Water and Wastewater Analysis) or Easily Reducible Manganese (Methods of Soil Analysis, Part II).
PRIMA’s final report will not only state the results of the bench-scale testing, but will include a description of the procedures, observations, interpretation of the data, and recommendations to help you fully understand and apply the information to your project. In addition, PRIMA can provide technical oversight during field pilot or full-scale remediation, or refer you to appropriate experts.
This varies greatly depending upon the type of bench test. Sample requirements are included in the proposal we submit to you. In general, however, most tests (with the exception of SOD tests) require a few kilograms of soil and several liters of water.
Samples should be sent to:
Sample Receiving
PRIMA Environmental, Inc.
5070 Robert J Mathews Parkway, Suite 300
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Don’t forget a chain of custody!
No, we don’t. Normal sample receiving hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm.