ISO 15753:2016

Overview

ISO 15753:2016 specifies validated analytical methods for the determination of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in animal and vegetable fats and oils. The standard describes a general method and a specific method for coconut oil and vegetable oils with short‑chain fatty acids. It establishes the analytical principle (extraction, clean‑up and HPLC‑fluorescence determination), quantification limits, and scope limitations for routine laboratory testing and regulatory monitoring.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Analytes covered: 15 PAHs (includes benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3‑c,d)pyrene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, etc.).
• Analytical principle: extraction with an acetonitrile/acetone mixture, purification on C18 reversed‑phase and Florisil bonded‑phase cartridges (SPE), followed by HPLC with programmable fluorescence detection.
• Limit of quantification (LOQ): typically 0.2 µg/kg, except 0.3 µg/kg for fluoranthene and benzo(g,h,i)perylene, and 1.0 µg/kg for indeno(1,2,3‑c,d)pyrene.
• Limitations: not quantitative for very volatile PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene). Palm oil and olive pomace oil cannot be reliably analysed due to matrix interferences; results for olive pomace oil show very poor precision (Annex B). Milk and milk products are excluded from the scope.
• Method detail coverage: sample preparation (reference to ISO 661), reagents, apparatus (centrifuge, SPE cartridges, HPLC system), extraction/purification procedures, HPLC operating and detection parameters, expression of results, and precision data.

Practical applications and who uses ISO 15753:2016

• Food safety and regulatory monitoring: compliance testing for PAH contamination in edible fats and oils, risk assessment and enforcement of contamination limits.
• Quality control in oil processing: routine screening for PAHs formed during drying, smoking, refining, or due to environmental contamination.
• Analytical and contract testing laboratories: standardized method for inter‑lab comparability, method validation, and reporting.
• Research institutions and QA teams in the edible oil, bakery, confectionery and animal‑fat processing sectors.

Benefits include reproducible HPLC‑based PAH quantification, clear LOQ guidance, and specified clean‑up steps (C18 and Florisil SPE) to reduce matrix effects in most oils (except stated exclusions).

Related standards

• ISO 661 - Preparation of test sample (referenced for sample preparation).
• ISO 5555 - Recommended sampling methods (sampling is not part of ISO 15753:2016 but referenced).

Keywords: ISO 15753:2016, PAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, fats and oils, HPLC fluorescence, SPE, C18, Florisil, coconut oil, olive pomace oil, quantification limit, food safety.