DIN EN 17503 PDF Download

The DIN EN 17503 standard provides a method for the quantitative determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in various environmental solid matrices including soil, sludge, sediment, treated biowaste, and waste. The standard utilizes both gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet/fluorescence detection (HPLC-UV-DAD/FLD) techniques to cover a wide range of PAH contamination levels.

The method outlined in the standard allows for the detection and quantification of 16 specific PAHs. However, it specifies that acenaphthylene cannot be measured when using fluorescence detection. The limit of detection for the PAHs depends on factors such as the equipment used, the quality of chemicals used for sample extraction and clean-up, and the specific determinants. The lower limit of application ranges from 10 µg/kg (expressed as dry matter) for soils, sludge, and biowaste to 100 µg/kg (expressed as dry matter) for solid waste. However, for certain samples like bitumen, the limit of 100 µg/kg may not be achievable.

The standard recognizes that sludge, waste, and treated biowaste can have variations in properties as well as expected contamination levels and the presence of interfering substances. Hence, it provides decision tables based on sample properties and extraction and clean-up procedures to be used, rather than one general procedure. Additionally, the standard allows for the analysis of other PAHs not specified in the scope, as long as their suitability is proven through proper in-house validation experiments.