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.
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