scope:

This part of ISO 11916 specifies the measurement of 10 explosive compounds (nitroaromatics and nitroamines) as given in Table 1 in soils and sediments. This part of ISO 11916 is intended for the trace analysis of explosives by gas chromatography (GC) using an electron capture detector (ECD) or a mass spectrometer (MS) as detector. This part of ISO 11916 can be used when reliable and specific identification of the compounds at a low detection level is required, e.g. for the evaluation of the toxic potential of a soil contamination with 2,6-DNT. Under the conditions specified in this part of ISO 11916 minimum concentrations of explosives equal or above 0,05 mg/kg dry matter can typically be determined. This method is principally suitable for the determination of further related compounds. This is, however, to be verified experimentally. Hexogen (RDX), octogen (HMX), hexyl, tetryl and nitropenta for example can not be analysed by this method.