PCB determination

In some cases, waste oils, especially from insulating fluids in transformers and capacitors and from hydraulic oils in mining, may contain PCB's (polychlorinated biephenyls). These are to be regarded as a health hazard.

The determination is carried out with a gas chromatograph. The PCBs are separated from the oil on the column and 6 characteristic congeners are detected with an ECD (halogen-specific detector). The sum of these compounds is given as the result.

6 selected congeners are determined by gas chromatography.

The results are indicated in the analysis report:
- according to DIN - as sum of the 6 measured values
- according to LAGA - as sum of the 6 measured values multiplied by 5

The 6 congeners are:
- PCB 28
- PCB 52
- PCB 101
- PCB 138
- PCB 153
- PCB 180

The limit value for PCBs according to paragraph 1 No. 3 of the PCB, PCT, VC Prohibition Ordinance is exceeded if the sum of the 6 PCBs according to DIN is greater than 11 mg/kg.