ISO 12010:2019

Overview

ISO 12010:2019 - Water quality: Determination of short-chain polychlorinated alkanes (SCCP) in water - specifies a validated laboratory method for the quantitative determination of the sum of short‑chain polychlorinated n‑alkanes (SCCPs) (n‑C10 to n‑C13) with chlorine mass fractions between 50 % and 67 %. The method uses gas chromatography‑mass spectrometry with electron capture negative‑ion chemical ionization (GC‑ECNI‑MS / GC‑MS NCI) and covers about 6 000 of ~8 000 congeners found in technical and environmental mixtures. Applicable matrices include unfiltered surface water, ground water, drinking water and waste water, with a working concentration range typically 0.1 µg/L to 10 µg/L (matrix-dependent detection limits).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Analytical principle: fortification with internal standard → liquid‑liquid extraction (LLE) → extract clean‑up → GC separation on a short capillary column → MS detection in selected ion monitoring (ECNI).
• Calibration and quantification: multiple linear regression using three specified calibration mixtures to account for variable chlorine/C‑number distributions; integration over the full SCCP retention window.
• Mass fragments / ions: specific m/z values are designated for identification/quantification (document lists exact m/z values used to reduce interferences).
• Reagents and solvents: n‑heptane for extraction (n‑hexane, cyclohexane acceptable if extraction efficiency comparable); isooctane for bottle conditioning.
• Clean‑up: gel permeation chromatography (GPC) clean‑up is described; alternative column and gel chromatography procedures are given in annexes.
• Performance characteristics: expanded measurement uncertainty expected to be <50 %; interlaboratory performance data provided in Annex I.
• Interferences: guidance and threshold concentrations for common chlorinated pollutants (e.g., Aroclors, Halowax, MCCPs) and measures to mitigate matrix effects (e.g., MS resolution adjustments).

Applications and users

• Environmental and water‑quality laboratories performing routine monitoring of SCCPs in drinking water, surface water, groundwater, and wastewater.
• Regulatory agencies and compliance testing bodies assessing SCCP contamination relative to environmental standards.
• Contract labs, academic researchers, and consultants conducting pollutant fate/transport studies or source apportionment.
• Wastewater treatment operators implementing targeted monitoring for chlorinated paraffin contamination.

Related standards and references

• Normative references: ISO 5667 series (sampling), ISO 8466‑1 (calibration/evaluation), ISO/TS 13530 (analytical quality control).
• Synergy with sediment methods: alignment with ISO 18635 (sediment SCCP analysis) for calibration and clean‑up approaches.

Keywords: ISO 12010:2019, SCCP, short‑chain polychlorinated alkanes, GC‑ECNI‑MS, GC‑MS NCI, water quality, liquid‑liquid extraction, SCCP determination, environmental monitoring.