Overview

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of selected polybrominated flame retardants (BFR), chemically known as polybrominated diphenylethers (BDE), in waste materials using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the electron impact (EI) ionisation mode (GC-EI-MS). Brominated diphenylethers (BDE) are extracted from the dried sample using an organic solvent. In case of high levels of plastic waste matrices, cryo-grinding is required in order to provide particle sizes that allow the complete extraction of the analytes. Appropriate extraction techniques are soxhlet, sonication or pressurised fluid extraction. The obtained extracts are concentrated and cleaned up by column chromatography and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). Following the concentration and clean-up process, the brominated diphenylethers are separated by capillary gas chromatography and detected by mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode using electron impact ionisation (EI). Quantification is carried out by the internal standard method. A validation ring test has been carried out with 9 to 12 participating laboratories. The results for 4 samples: Filter dust, 2 samples of shredder light fraction and electro waste are included in an informative annex. When applying GC-EI-MS, the method is applicable to samples containing 100 µg/kg to 5 000 µg/kg of tetra- to octabromodiphenylether congeners and 100 µg/kg to 10 000 µg/kg of decabromo diphenylether. It is also possible to analyse other brominated flame retardants applying the method described in this European Standard, provided the method's applicability has been proven. This document has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 292 "Characterization of waste", the secretariat of which is held by NEN (Netherlands). The responsible German committee is Working Group NA 119-01-02-02-05 AK "Organische Analytik" ("Analytical Chemistry") of Working Committee NA 119-01-02-AA "Abfall- und Bodenuntersuchung" ("Waste and soil analysis") at the Water Practice Standards Committee (NAW) at DIN.

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 119-01-02-02-05 AK - Organic analysis  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 444/WG 2 - Organic analysis