EN ISO 16558-1:2015 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 16558-1:2015 - Soil quality - Risk-based petroleum hydrocarbons - Part 1 - specifies a laboratory method for quantifying volatile petroleum hydrocarbons in field‑moist soil using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC‑MS) and a static headspace extraction. The method measures total extractable volatile hydrocarbons, plus the volatile aliphatic (C5–C10) and volatile aromatic (C6–C10) fractions. The combined aliphatic + aromatic result is commonly reported as volatile oil. The procedure is suitable for concentrations from about 5 mg/kg (dry matter) and covers hydrocarbons with an approximate boiling range 36 °C to 184 °C, including n‑alkanes (C5–C10), isoalkanes, cycloalkanes, BTEX and alkylbenzenes.

Key topics and requirements

• Analytical technique: Static headspace sampling followed by GC‑MS analysis to separate and quantify volatile fractions.
• Target fractions: Volatile aliphatic (C5–C10) and volatile aromatic (C6–C10); aromatic fraction is the sum of individually identified aromatic compounds.
• Detection range and limits: Method applicable from around 5 mg/kg soil (dry weight) for whole aliphatic and aromatic fractions in the C5–C10/C6–C10 boiling ranges.
• Scope of compounds: Includes n‑alkanes, isoalkanes, cycloalkanes, BTEX, di‑ and tri‑alkyl benzenes within the defined boiling range.
• Quality control: Blank determinations, calibration, spiking and calculation procedures are specified to ensure quantitative results suitable for risk assessment.
• Interpretation: GC peak patterns and the boiling point relationships (Annex A) allow approximate boiling‑range identification and qualitative composition information.

Applications and who uses it

EN ISO 16558-1:2015 is intended for:

• Environmental analytical laboratories performing soil quality testing for petroleum hydrocarbon contamination.
• Environmental consultants and contaminated‑land specialists conducting risk assessment and site characterization.
• Regulators and remediation project managers who need standardized, comparable data on volatile oil concentrations (C5–C10).
• Researchers and soil scientists studying petroleum hydrocarbon fate, volatilization potential, or source characterization.

Practical uses include baseline site investigations, monitoring after fuel spills, verification of remediation progress, and providing input data for human‑health and ecological risk assessments.

Related standards

• ISO/TS 16558‑2 - semi‑volatile aliphatic and aromatic fractions (GC/FID) - for heavier fractions beyond the volatile range.
• ISO 16703, ISO 22155, and ISO 11504 - referenced analytical guidance and fraction selection for petroleum hydrocarbons and risk‑based interpretation.

Keywords: EN ISO 16558-1:2015, soil quality, petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile oil, GC‑MS, static headspace, C5–C10, BTEX, risk assessment.