Sediment sampler for in-situ measurement of soluble contaminant flux rates

A method for in-situ measurement of soluble contaminant flux rates in sediments comprising the steps of:

• placing a water-filled chamber having an open bottom, at least one side wall, and a top wall closing off a top of said chamber over an area of sediment, whereby an interior of said chamber is isolated from an exterior of said chamber above said sediment;
• sorbing a soluble contaminant released from said sediment to a surface of a sorb ent material disposed within a plurality of semipermeable membrane bags, each said semipermeable membrane bag disposed within said chamber;
• removing each said semipermeable membrane bag from said chamber in a pre-defined sequence over a period of time;
• analyzing said sorbent material in each said semipermeable membrane bag to determine an amount of said soluble contaminant sorbed by said sorbent material;
• and
• calculating a mass of said soluble contaminant removed from said sediment over time.