ISO/TR 11046:1994

Specifies two methods for the quantitative determination of mineral oil content in soil by IR spectrometry (method A) and gas chromatography (method B). Method A is applicable to mineral oil contents above 20 mg/kg on a dry matter basis, method B to those above 100 mg/kg. Petrol cannot be determined quantitatively with these methods, due to loss of volatile compounds during sample pretreatment. Weak polar compounds of recent biogenic origin may be determined as mineral oil. Relatively high contents of polar compounds give interferences in the determination. Halogenated hydrocarbons also may interfere.