EN ISO 9377-2
EN ISO 9377-2, a standard published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and adopted by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), entitled ‘Water quality — Determination of the hydrocarbon-oil index — Part 2: Methods using solvent extraction and gas chromatography’, i.e. ‘Water quality — Determination of the hydrocarbon oil index — Part 2: Methods using solvent extraction and gas chromatography’. The current base text is ISO 9377-2:2000.
This standard is used to determine the hydrocarbon-oil index (often referred to as H53 or the ‘hydrocarbon-oil index’ in national applications) in water samples. The result is expressed as the sum of the hydrocarbons between n-decane (C10) and n-tetracontane (C40). The method is frequently used, in particular, for monitoring wastewater, industrial effluent, surface water and oil-contaminated waters; in Germany, it is regarded as the reference method for the H53 parameter under the Wastewater Ordinance.
Status of Annex C: Annex C is one of the informative/normative annexes to the standard. [The official title and scope of Annex C must be checked against the official ISO/CEN text.] The following sections reflect the general framework of the main procedure; details specific to Annex C are to be added following verification.
What is the purpose of the standard?
EN ISO 9377-2 is used for the following scientific, environmental and regulatory purposes:
- Environmental monitoring: Determination of the hydrocarbon-oil index in wastewater, industrial effluent, surface waters and oil-contaminated waters
- Compliance with legal requirements: Monitoring of discharge limit values laid down in national and EU legislation (e.g. parameter H53 in Germany)
- Evaluation of treatment processes: Monitoring the effectiveness of oil separators, flotation and biological treatment processes
- Identification of sources of pollution: Assessment of the impact of industrial discharges and accidents on water bodies
- Monitoring programmes: Trend analysis and reporting within the framework of water quality monitoring programmes
- Process control: Monitoring of effluent quality in industrial plants
- Support with regulatory documentation: provision of analytical data for environmental permits, discharge permits and inspections
- An approach to assessing evidential value: a contribution to the holistic assessment of water in conjunction with other water quality parameters
EN ISO 9377-2 specifies the total content of hydrocarbons in the C10–C40 range; it does not provide a detailed characterisation of the individual components. The results must be interpreted taking into account the sampling, storage and analysis conditions.
At NanoTest, we carry out the determination of the hydrocarbon oil index in accordance with EN ISO 9377-2 with scientific rigour, within the framework of our accredited laboratory infrastructure and our quality management system.
For information on the suitability of the method, the extraction and purification strategy, the sampling and storage conditions, and GC analysis, the test plan and the reporting procedures relating to your determinations of the hydrocarbon oil index in accordance with EN ISO 9377-2, please feel free to contact NanoTest.Find out more about the determination of the hydrocarbon oil index (C10–C40, H53) in water in accordance with EN ISO 9377-2:2000.