🌿 5-Methylhexan-2-one in workplace air — adsorption of vapours on activated carbon, desorption with a solution of methanol in carbon disulphide, gas chromatography; lowest determinable concentration according to the standard 9.5 mg/m³, MAC (NDS) 95 mg/m³; PN-Z-04358:2006

Environment PN-Z-04358

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "A method is given consisting in the adsorption of 5-methylhexan-2-one vapours on activated carbon, desorption of the compound with a solution of methanol in carbon disulphide and analysis of the obtained solution by gas chromatography. The lowest concentration of 5-methylhexan-2-one that can be determined by this method is 9.5 mg/m3" (our translation; on the card without a full stop at the end). The card gives neither the detector nor the air volume. We did not have the text of the standard (6 pages). The CIOP index of methods from 2000–2017 lists "5-Metyloheksan-2-on − nr 4(30) 2001"; we did not read the article and give nothing from it.

NDS VALUES (list in the annex to the regulation of 26 March 2026, Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Item 381: "5-Methylhexan-2-one [110-12-3]" — NDS 95 mg/m³, without NDSCh and without the "skin" notation. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card, 9.5 mg/m³, is 10 % of the NDS.

STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04358:2006 (Polish version) has neither the heading "Withdrawn" nor a "Withdrawal date" line: published 29-09-2006, 6 pages, price group C, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; the card has no "Replaces" field. The PKN search for "PN-Z-04358" (05.10.2026) returns only this standard.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data load up to 17.09.2026, read on 05.10.2026). The number 04358 appears in 2 records at 2 laboratories; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues of 11.06.2026 and 23.07.2026) — in 2 rows at the same laboratories; a search of all PCA documents downloaded from the BIP found no laboratories outside the database copy; no item is suspended, and no document repeats pages. The form "PN-Z-04358:2006" — AB 882 (after procedure PB-10 edition 1 of 31.08.2022) and AB 1207 (next to procedure PB-06A edition 7 of 20.01.2025). The "Laboratories" tab (search term "PN-Z-04358") shows both laboratories — checked with a tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 05.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy and PCA documents). AB 882 — working environment, air samples: concentration and content of 5-methylhexan-2-one 3.13–2310 mg/m³ (0.016–3.8 mg per sample); AB 1207 — 0.17–500 mg/m³ (0.001–5.0 mg per sample), an item in a group with three test objects: working environment (air samples collected on sorbent tubes — activated carbon), general environment (ambient air samples) and indoor rooms. Technique: gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) — both laboratories.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — limit of quantification: according to the card 9.5 mg/m³; AB 882 gives 3.13 mg/m³, AB 1207 0.17 mg/m³, which requires conditions different from those in the standard. Second — procedures: in both laboratories the standard is accompanied by an in-house procedure (PB-10, PB-06A) — the report should state according to which document the sample was taken and determined. Third — detector: the card does not give it, both laboratories use GC-MS. Fourth — object: at AB 1207 the item stands in a group that also covers ambient air and indoor rooms — for these objects the NDS is not a reference value.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — we do not give the mass of activated carbon, the volume or flow rate of air sampling, the composition or volume of the desorption solution, the column, the detector required by the standard, the chromatograph conditions or calculations; we do not know the content of the 2001 CIOP article.

Method principle

5-Methylhexan-2-one vapours from workplace air are adsorbed on activated carbon, desorbed with a solution of methanol in carbon disulphide and the solution is analysed by gas chromatography (PKN card); the result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 95 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Lowest determinable concentration according to the card — 9.5 mg/m³. WE DO NOT GIVE details — we did not have the text of the standard.

Applications

• Workplace air — 5-methylhexan-2-one — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories
• Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 95 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 381 of the list)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-Z-04358:2006

Title (PL)

Ochrona czystości powietrza — Oznaczanie 5-metyloheksan-2-onu na stanowiskach pracy metodą chromatografii gazowej

Title (EN)

Air purity protection — Determination of 5-methylhexan-2-one at workplaces by gas chromatography

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sampling

   Adsorption of vapours on activated carbon (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume.

2. Desorption

   With a solution of methanol in carbon disulphide (PKN card).

3. Analysis

   Gas chromatography of the solution (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.

4. Result and assessment

   Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 95 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); lowest determinable concentration 9.5 mg/m³.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• 5-Methylhexan-2-one, methanol and carbon disulphide — chemical laboratory safety rules
• TECHNICAL NOTE: both laboratories apply the standard next to in-house procedures and with mass spectrometry; bottom limits lower than the card (9.5 mg/m³)

Frequently asked questions