BS ISO 7981-1:2005

This standard BS ISO 7981-1:2005 Water quality. Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is classified in these ICS categories:

• 13.060.50 Examination of water for chemical substances

This part of ISO 7981 specifies the determination of six selected PAH in drinking water by high-performance thin-layer chromatography with fluorescence detection after liquid-liquid extraction. The six PAH are: fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and benzo[ghi]perylene (see Table 1).

A screening method (method A) is described to exclude those samples containing less than 20 % of the limit values given in References [1], [2], [3] and [4].

A quantitative method (method B) is also described, with a working range of 40 ng/l to 240 ng/l (sum of 6 PAH). Higher concentrations can be determined by using a smaller aliquot of the sample.

With some modifications, this method is also applicable for the analysis of ground waters and moderately polluted surface waters.