How the Snap Sampler works?

March 23, 2012

With low flow and no flow sampling becoming more the ‘norm’ we are pleased to offer the Snap Sampler, this is a patented (US Pat. 7,178,415) groundwater sampling device that employs a unique double-end-opening bottle. Bottles are available in 40ml VOA vial size in glass; or 125ml and 350ml sizes in plastic.

To operate the Snap Samplers are loaded with bottles, “Snap” caps are set into an open position, then the Samplers are deployed downhole with an attachment/trigger line to the surface.

Then the Snap Sampler bottles seal under the water surface by simply pulling the trigger, pushing the electric trigger button, or pressuring up the pneumatic trigger system. The trigger releases PFA Teflon “Snap Caps” that seal the double-ended bottles downhole so the sample is never exposed to the external environment.

These special end caps are designed to seal the water sample within the bottles with no headspace vapour that could potentially contaminate the sample. Once the closed vial is retrieved from the well, you can then prepare the bottle with standard septa screw caps and a label.

The 40 ml VOA vial can be used directly in standard laboratory equipment. The 125ml or 350ml POLY bottles also seal onsite. The plastic bottle can be used for larger volume samples, metals or other analytes where a plastic bottle is preferred. For non-volatiles, this bottle can be opened at the well head to combine in a larger bottle, transfer to a glass bottle (e.g. for SVOCs), or just to remove the internal spring before acidifying a metal sample.

Snap Samplers with 40ml and 125ml bottles fit in 2-inch or larger monitoring wells. Snap Samplers with 350ml bottles fit in 4-inch or larger monitoring wells.

To see the benefits of this type of no purge sampler take a look at our video or to decide if this sampling technique will work for a particular project take a look at our comparison Information Sheet: Not all passive samplers are equal.