Overview
EN ISO 15680:2003 - Water quality - describes a validated, general method for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water using purge-and-trap isolation followed by gas chromatography (GC) with thermal desorption. The standard covers a wide range of non‑polar, intermediate‑volatility compounds (from difluorodichloromethane (R‑12) up to trichlorobenzene), with specific examples in Annexes A–C that include monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, naphthalene and several chlorinated compounds. Detection is preferably by mass spectrometry (GC‑MS) in electron impact (EI) mode, although other detectors may be used. Typical detection limits can be as low as 10 ng/L, with a working range up to 100 µg/L. The method applies to drinking water, groundwater, surface water, seawater and (diluted) wastewater.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Principle: Fixed-volume purge with inert gas strips purgeable VOCs which are trapped (packed adsorbent trap or capillary cold‑trap) and thermally desorbed onto a GC column; temperature programming separates analytes.
- Trapping options: Packed adsorbent traps (with recommended cryofocusing) or capillary cold‑traps; on‑line or off‑line thermal desorption configurations.
- Detection & identification: Preferential use of GC‑MS (EI) with criteria for compound identification (Annex D). Quantification uses characteristic fragment ions; lowest identification concentration based on signal‑to‑noise (S/N > 3 for diagnostic ion).
- Performance: Detection limits depend on detector and operating parameters; indicative LOD ~10 ng/L (3× standard deviation on replicate measurements). Working range typically up to 100 µg/L.
- Quality aspects: Sampling, preservation and calibration procedures are specified; normative references include ISO 3696, ISO 5667‑3 and ISO 8466‑1. Informative annexes provide validation examples, cleaning procedures, standard preparation and recovery determination.
Applications
- Routine and compliance monitoring of VOCs in drinking water, groundwater, surface water, seawater and wastewater.
- Screening and quantitative determination of aromatic hydrocarbons, naphthalene and chlorinated VOCs in environmental surveillance.
- Method basis for environmental laboratories performing GC‑MS analyses using purge‑and‑trap and thermal desorption workflows.
- Useful for regulatory testing, contamination assessment, remediation monitoring and research studies on VOC fate and transport.
Who uses this standard
- Environmental and water quality laboratories
- Water utilities and public health agencies
- Environmental consultants and remediation firms
- Instrument manufacturers and method validation teams
- Researchers in environmental chemistry and toxicology
Related Standards
- ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use
- ISO 5667‑3 - Sampling: preservation and handling of water samples
- ISO 8466‑1 - Calibration and evaluation of analytical methods
Keywords: EN ISO 15680:2003, water quality, VOCs, purge-and-trap, thermal desorption, GC-MS, gas chromatography, detection limits, drinking water, environmental monitoring.