ASTM D4059 GC for PCBs in Insulating Liquids

KN-4059 GC for PCBs in Insulating Liquids

Overview

 KN-4059 GC for PCBs in Insulating Liquids conforms to ASTM D4059 Standard Test Method for Analysis of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Insulating Liquids by Gas Chromatography. This test method describes a quantitative determination of the concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in electrical insulating liquids by gas chromatography. It also applies to the determination of PCB present in mixtures known as askarels, used as electrical insulating liquids.

The test specimen is diluted with a suitable solvent. The resulting solution is treated by a procedure to remove interfering substances after which a small portion of the resulting solution is injected into a gas chromatographic column. The components are separated as they pass through the column with carrier gas and their presence in the effluent is measured by an electron capture (EC) detector and recorded as a chromatogram. The test method is mad quantitative by comparing the sample chromatogram with a chromatogram of a known quantity of one or more standard Aroclors, obtained under the same analytical conditions.

United States governmental regulations mandate that electrical apparatus and electrical insulating fluids containing PCB be handled and disposed of through specific procedures. The procedure to be used for a particular apparatus or quantity of insulating fluid is determined by the PCB content of the fluid. The results of this analytical technique can be useful in selecting the appropriate handling and disposal procedure.

Quantification in this technique requires a peak-by peak comparison of the chromatogram of an unknown specimen with that of standard Aroclor test specimens obtained under identical conditions. The amount of PCB producing each peak in the standard chromatogram shall be known independently.

Chromatogram

Configuration: