Sampling and Laboratory Analysis

Sampling and laboratory analysis

MC4 S.r.l. provides a comprehensive consultancy service for material management, field sampling, sample transport, and coordination of laboratory analysis at accredited laboratories.

Sampling and collection activities are carried out directly by our specialist technical staff. Samples are transported in accordance with current regulatory procedures and entrusted to accredited laboratories, ensuring complete traceability, reliable results, and full regulatory compliance.

This integrated approach allows us to manage the entire process — from sampling plan design to test report delivery — offering our clients a single technical point of contact for all their analytical needs.

Our services

• Preparation of sampling plans in compliance with current regulations
• Field sampling of soils, groundwater, wastewater, solid and liquid waste
• Sample transport to laboratories in accordance with chain of custody procedures
• Coordination of analyses with accredited laboratories
• Technical interpretation of analytical results
• Preparation of technical reports to support permitting and legal proceedings

Our analytical matrices

Soils and solid waste

• Full physico-chemical characterisation (physical state, pH, moisture, grain size, TOC)
• Heavy metals (Sb, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cr VI, Hg, Ni, Pb, Cu, Se, Sn, Tl, V, Zn and others)
• Aromatic organic compounds (BTEX, PAH, nitrobenzenes, chlorobenzenes)
• Chlorinated and halogenated aliphatic compounds (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic)
• Light hydrocarbons (C<12) and heavy hydrocarbons (C>12, C10-C40)
• PCB, PCDD/PCDF (dioxins and furans)
• Chlorinated and non-chlorinated phenols, aromatic amines
• Asbestos (quantitative analysis)
• Persistent Organic Pollutants — POPs (PFOS/PFAS, hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorophenol)
• Carcinogenicity and mutagenicity markers
• Acute toxicity testing with Daphnia magna (OECD 202)

Excavated soil and rock (D.P.R. 120/2017)

• Full analytical package for excavated soil and rock management
• Partial package for low-risk sites
• Parameters compliant with D.P.R. 120/2017 and D.Lgs. 152/2006 tables

Leaching tests and eluates

• Leaching test per Decree 28/06/2024 No. 127
• Eluate per D.Lgs. 121/2020 — Table 2 (inert waste landfill admissibility)
• Eluate per D.Lgs. 121/2020 — Tables 3 and 4 (non-hazardous/hazardous landfill admissibility)
• Parameters: pH, heavy metals, anions (Cl, F, SO4, NO3), cyanides, COD, DOC, TDS, phenol index

Groundwater

• Comprehensive groundwater monitoring
• Physico-chemical parameters (pH, temperature, conductivity, BOD5, TOC)
• Heavy metals (24 elements including Al, Sb, Ag, As, Be, V, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Cu, Se, Mn, Tl, Zn)
• Chromium VI, cyanides, ammoniacal nitrogen
• Organic compounds (aromatics, PAH, chlorinated aliphatics, chlorobenzenes, phenols, chlorophenols)
• Aromatic amines, phytopharmaceuticals, total hydrocarbons
• Packages available: complete, intermediate, and partial

Wastewater

• Full analysis per D.Lgs. 152/2006 — Annex 5, Tables 3 and 4
• Physical parameters (colour, odour, temperature, gross materials, total suspended solids)
• Chemical parameters (BOD5, COD, total and ammoniacal nitrogen, SAR)
• Heavy metals (18 elements), chromium VI, cyanides
• Surfactants, fats and oils, phenols, aldehydes, total hydrocarbons
• Aromatic, nitrogen, and chlorinated organic solvents
• Phosphate and non-phosphate pesticides (Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, Isodrin)
• Microbiological analysis (Escherichia coli) and acute toxicity testing

Liquid waste

• Physico-chemical characterisation (pH, conductivity, density, BOD5)
• Heavy metals, chromium VI, cyanides
• Aromatic organic compounds, chlorinated aliphatics, and PAH
• Anions (sulfates, chlorides, fluorides, nitrites, nitrates)

Soil amendments and fertilisers

• Full analysis for composted amendments with sludge or mixed
• Heavy metals, chromium VI, moisture, pH, organic carbon
• Humic and fulvic carbon, organic and total nitrogen, C/N ratio
• Salinity, plastic materials/glass/metals, lithoid inerts
• Germination index
• Microbiological analysis (Salmonella and Escherichia coli on 5 aliquots)

Regulatory framework

All analyses are carried out in compliance with current Italian and EU legislation:

• D.Lgs. 152/2006 (Italian Environmental Code)
• D.P.R. 120/2017 (excavated soil and rock management)
• D.Lgs. 121/2020 (landfill admissibility criteria)
• Decree 28/06/2024 No. 127 (leaching tests)
• EPA methods (5021A, 8260D, 8270E, 3550C, 8015C, 8280B)
• UNI EN and UNI EN ISO standards (12457-2, 11885, 15587-1, 14039, 14346, 10304-1, 13657, 13137, 933-1, 1484)
• APAT CNR IRSA methods (Manuals 29/2003)
• ASTM, OECD, ANPA, and ISPA methods
• MIPAAF methods for soil amendments and fertilisers

Why choose MC4

Choosing MC4 means having a single technical point of contact for the entire analytical process:

• Sampling carried out directly by our qualified technical staff
• Sample transport in full compliance with chain of custody and regulatory procedures
• Analyses entrusted exclusively to accredited laboratories
• Fast turnaround times: 5 to 15 working days depending on the analytical package
• Complete sample traceability, from field collection to test report
• Specialist technical support in interpreting results
• Preparation of technical reports for permitting, legal, and remediation proceedings

For quotation requests, sampling plans, or information about our analytical services, please contact us:

MC4 S.r.l.
Via Pietro Marchisio, 187 – 00173 Roma (RM), Italy
Email: mc4@inerti.net
Certified Email (PEC): mc4srl@legalmail.it