ISO/TS 16558-2:2015 PDF

Overview

ISO/TS 16558-2:2015 - Soil quality - Risk-based petroleum hydrocarbons - Part 2 specifies a laboratory method for the quantitative determination of semi-volatile petroleum hydrocarbons (C10–C40) in field‑moist soil. The technique uses solvent extraction followed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) to report the total extractable petroleum hydrocarbons and to split that total into aliphatic and aromatic fractions. Results are intended for use in risk assessment, site characterization and contaminant monitoring.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope & detection limits: Applicable to whole aliphatic and aromatic fractions from about 100 mg/kg (dry matter) for C10–C40; lower limits for sub‑fractions can be achieved by large‑volume injection or concentrating extracts.
• Extraction principle: Homogenized soil extracted with an acetone / n‑heptane mixture (2+1) by shaking or sonication; organic layer separated, washed and aliquots analysed.
• Chromatographic window: Quantification is based on the total peak area between n‑decane (C10) and n‑tetracontane (C40) retention times.
• Fractionation: Extract is split on a silicagel (silica gel) column to obtain the aliphatic fraction (eluted with pentane/hexane/heptane) and the aromatic fraction (eluted with dichloromethane or dichloromethane:n‑heptane 1:1).
• Quality control: Includes blanks, system performance tests, repeatability checks, calibration (using hydrocarbon standards), integration rules and validity checks per ISO guidance.
• Interferences: Non‑petroleum compounds with similar boiling ranges (e.g., some halogenated hydrocarbons) may interfere with results.
• Boiling range interpretation: The method enables approximate boiling‑range and qualitative composition assessment using n‑alkane peaks (Annex B).

Applications

• Environmental risk assessment and human health/ecological screening for petroleum hydrocarbon contamination.
• Site investigations and baseline soil characterization for spills, storage tank leaks, industrial sites and oil‑impacted land.
• Remediation monitoring to track reductions in semi‑volatile hydrocarbon fractions.
• Regulatory compliance reporting and selection of appropriate remedial actions based on aliphatic vs aromatic content.

Who should use it

• Accredited environmental and analytical laboratories performing soil contaminant testing.
• Environmental consultants, remediation contractors, regulatory agencies and risk assessors involved in contaminated land management.

Related standards

• ISO 16558-1 (volatile petroleum hydrocarbons - static headspace GC)
• ISO 16703 (determination of hydrocarbons C10–C40 by GC)
• ISO 11504, ISO 8466-1, ISO 10381-1, ISO 11465, ISO 14507, ISO 18512 - referenced for calibration, sampling, pretreatment and storage guidance.

Keywords: ISO/TS 16558-2:2015, soil quality, petroleum hydrocarbons, semi-volatile, GC/FID, aliphatic aromatic fractions, C10–C40, soil contamination, risk assessment.