Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies a method for quantitative determination of various perfluorinated hydrocarbons by means of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry in soil, sludge, sediment and waste (see Table 1).

For many substances to which this document applies a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0,1 to 10 µg/kgdm can be achieved. See also Annex D for more information regarding the LOQ’s reachable.

The method can be applied to the analysis of additional PFAS not specified in the scope, if validity is proven by proper in-house validation protocols, particularly for volatile compounds that may be lost during preparation.

For each target compound all, branched and non-branched are quantified together. In this method the amount of linear and branched PFAS is quantified using the response factor of the linear PFAS in the calibration standard and the total area of the linear and branched PFAS (Annex C gives more explanation).

Alternatively, the linear isomer and sum of branched isomers may be quantified separately and the sum of both can be calculated provided a complete separation of the linear isomer from the branched isomers is obtained.

All compounds of Table 1 were tested during an international inter laboratory trial in Europe in the period December 2023 to April 2024. The table specifies for which the criteria of an interlaboratory standard deviation (CVR) of 50 % was not reached. See Annex D for more details.

The validity of the procedure has been proven for soil, sediment and sludge samples and for a selection of waste samples. For other waste types than mentioned in Annex D the laboratory shall validate the suitability of the procedure of this standard.