Technical Committee Analytics

Determination of the Solubility of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) from Light Heating Oil in Water

The classification of mineral oil products according to their water-pollution potential (WGK) by the Commission for Classification of Water Hazardous Materials (KBwS) requires the availability of an appropriate data base.
The solubility of PAHs of light heating oil in water was determined by a test method, which has already been described in the DGMK Research Report 556 "Water Pollution Potential of Mineral Oils with High Content of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Heavy Fuel Oi/ and Neutral Oil Extracts)".
This method was used to determine the solubility in the water phase of five PAHs in samples of light heating oil according to the German Drinking Water Ordinance (Trinkwasser-Verordnung, TVO): benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoroanthene, benzo[k]fluoroanthene, fndeno[1 ,2,3-cd]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene). The light heating oil samples were provided by two German refineries.
The Iimit values as defined by the Drinking Water Ordinance (TVO) for

benzo[a]pyrene: 0,01 µg / l and
for the sum value of benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene: 0,1 µg / l

were clearly not exceeded.