Overview
EN ISO 22478:2006 - adopted by CEN as a European standard - specifies a validated laboratory method for the determination of certain explosives and related compounds in water using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. The method targets nitroaromatics, nitroamines and nitrate esters (examples: TNT, RDX, HMX, PETN, nitroglycerine, tetryl, picric acid) in drinking water, groundwater and surface water. Typical working-range detection limits are between 0.1 µg/L and 0.5 µg/L for many nitroaromatics/nitramines (in some cases down to 0.05 µg/L); nitrate esters generally require higher limits (≈0.5 µg/L or more).
Key Topics
- Analytical principle: Solid-phase extraction (SPE) on a polystyrene/divinylbenzene adsorbent, solvent elution, concentration, separation by HPLC and detection with a UV photodiode array (UV‑PDA).
- Target compounds: Nitrotoluenes, nitroamines, nitrate esters and related by-products/degradation products (see Table 1 in the standard for the recommended list).
- Detection limits & working range: Lower limits for nitroaromatics/nitramines typically 0.05–0.5 µg/L; nitrate esters higher (~0.5 µg/L+).
- Sample handling & preservation: Guidance on sampling, filtration (glass-fibre filters for suspended solids), and protection from light to avoid degradation (notably tetryl).
- Interferences: Humic substances, co-eluting compounds, light-induced decomposition, evaporation losses (mononitrotoluenes) and high concentrations of nitroaromatics affecting RDX/HMX detection.
- Reagents & equipment: HPLC-grade solvents (methanol, acetonitrile), KH2PO4 buffer, orthophosphoric acid, grade‑1 water (ISO 3696), inert gases for degassing/concentration, and microporous polystyrene/divinylbenzene SPE cartridges.
- Quality control: Calibration procedures, UV spectral checks for peak purity, recovery criteria (e.g., ≥85% recovery for HMX at 1 µg/L when validating adsorbent), and precision data included as informative annexes.
Applications
- Environmental monitoring of former munitions sites, military training grounds and contaminated catchments.
- Routine testing of drinking water, groundwater and surface water near potential explosive contamination sources.
- Site assessment and remediation verification for contaminated land projects.
- Regulatory compliance testing and investigative surveys by water laboratories, environmental consultants, government and defence agencies.
Who should use this standard
- Accredited environmental and municipal water laboratories
- Analytical chemists specializing in trace organic pollutants
- Remediation contractors and environmental consultants
- Regulators and public health authorities assessing contamination risks
Related Standards
- ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use (reagent water quality)
- ISO 5667-1 / -2 / -3 - Water sampling guidance and preservation
- Adopted as EN ISO 22478:2006 by CEN (European national bodies)
This method provides a reproducible, HPLC‑UV‑based workflow for detecting trace explosives in water and is intended for trained laboratory personnel following established safety and sampling practice. Keywords: EN ISO 22478:2006, HPLC with UV detection, water quality, explosives in water, nitrotoluenes, nitroamines, nitrate esters, solid-phase extraction.