1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method for the quantitative determination
of the mineral oil (hydrocarbon) content in field-moist soil samples by gas chromatography.
The method is applicable to mineral oil contents (mass fraction) between 100 mg/kg
and 10 000 mg/kg soil, expressed as dry matter, and can be adapted to lower limits
of detection.
This International Standard is applicable to the determination of all hydrocarbons
with a boiling range of 175 °C to 525 °C, of n-alkanes from C10H22 to C40H82, of isoalkanes, cycloalkanes, alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes and polycyclic aromatic
compounds, provided that they are not absorbed on the specified column during the
clean-up procedure.
This International Standard is not applicable to the quantitative determination of
hydrocarbons < C10 originating from gasolines.
On the basis of the peak pattern of the gas chromatogram obtained, and of the boiling
points of the individual n-alkanes listed in Annex B, the approximate boiling range of the mineral oil and some qualitative information
on the composition of the contamination can be obtained.