SIST EN ISO 18857-2:2012 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 18857-2:2011 (adopting ISO 18857-2:2009) is a CEN/ISO method for water quality analysis that specifies a gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric (GC‑MS) procedure to determine selected alkylphenols, their ethoxylates and bisphenol A (BPA) in non‑filtered samples. The method requires solid‑phase extraction (SPE), chemical derivatisation and GC‑MS detection and is applicable to drinking, ground, surface and waste waters.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Analytes covered: 4‑(1,1,3,3‑tetramethylbutyl)phenol (OP), OP mono‑ and diethoxylates (OP1EO, OP2EO), 4‑nonylphenol (NP, isomer mixture), NP1EO, NP2EO and bisphenol A (BPA).
• Sample type: Non‑filtered water samples; special handling for samples with >500 mg/l suspended solids (100 ml sample through SPE cartridge).
• Extraction and cleanup: Solid‑phase extraction using suitable sorbent cartridges (Annex A example); solvent elution prior to derivatisation.
• Derivatisation: Required to make analytes amenable to GC‑MS analysis (procedure detailed in the standard).
• Detection and calibration: GC‑MS with appropriate capillary columns (Annex B) and calibration across specified working ranges; detection limits depend on matrix and MS sensitivity.
• Working ranges (typical):
  • OP, OP1EO, OP2EO: 0.005 µg/L to 0.2 µg/L
  • NP, NP1EO, NP2EO: 0.03 µg/L to 0.2 µg/L
  • BPA: 0.05 µg/L to 0.2 µg/L
  • For certain waste water matrices higher ranges apply (up to 50 µg/L).
• Interferences & quality control: Guidance on matrix interferences, co‑extracted contaminants, and interfering chromatographic peaks; recommends checking sorbent batch performance and using full mass spectra when needed.
• Normative references: ISO 3696, ISO 5667 series (sampling), ISO 8466‑1 (calibration/evaluation).

Applications and users

• Environmental and regulatory monitoring of endocrine‑disrupting chemicals in surface water, ground water, drinking water and wastewater.
• Routine and confirmatory analysis in environmental testing laboratories, water utilities, wastewater treatment plants and academic research labs.
• Use cases: compliance testing, pollution source identification, treatment performance evaluation and environmental risk assessments.

Limitations and practical notes

• Requires qualified laboratory staff and standard laboratory safety practices.
• Sensitivity and lower limits depend on GC‑MS instrument performance and water matrix.
• Sorbent batch variability and chromatographic interferences must be managed through QC procedures.

Related standards

• ISO 18857‑1: Liquid‑liquid extraction GC‑MS method for non‑filtered samples (companion part).
• Referenced sampling and calibration standards: ISO 3696, ISO 5667‑1/3, ISO 8466‑1.

Keywords: EN ISO 18857-2:2011, water quality, alkylphenols, bisphenol A, GC‑MS, solid‑phase extraction, derivatisation, environmental monitoring.