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The total organic carbon (TOC) is one of the most important sum parameters in the assessment of the organic pollution of water. Since it includes all carbon compounds as one mass, it is exactly defined and an absolute quantity. Therefore, it may be determined directly.
The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) is one of the most important composite parameters in the assessment of the organic pollution of water. Since it includes all carbon compounds as one mass, it is exactly defined and an absolute quantity. Therefore, it may be determined directly. In relation to the TOC also parameters like TC, TIC, DOC, (POC, VOC) are mentioned. The connections between these sum parameters and their meanings are shown in the following figure:
This chart is showing the individual components of TOC.Extracts of DIN EN 1484:1997-08
TC „The organic and inorganic carbon in water, including the elemental carbon“
TIC „The carbon contained in water; elemental carbon, total carbon dioxide“
TOC „The organic carbon in water, bound on dissolved or suspended substances. Elemental carbon will be also determined“
„The total organic carbon (TOC) is a measurement method for the content of carbon of dissolved and undissolved organic substances in water“
In general, the TOC is determined by oxidizing a water sample. The produced CO2 is detected and defined quantitatively. However, not all methods succeed in the complete oxidation of a sample. Often enough this may result only in SOC (Some Organic Carbon) instead of the TOC.
The difference between TOC and Some Organic Carbon.
TOC contains dissolved and particulate organic carbon.
With this oxidation method the sample will be combusted in a reactor. Usually, a maximum temperature of about 1,000°C will be reached, which however does not allow the complete oxidation of all carbon compounds. Therefore, a catalyst, such as copper oxide or platinum, must be used at this temperatures. Normally, the catalytic combustion method can handle a TOC concentration of up to 4,000 mg/l. To reach higher ranges the sample usually needs to be diluted with demin water.
LAR AG offers a unique and patented high temperature (HT) method at 1,200°C. This temperature enables the complete oxidation of all carbon compounds without any catalysts. It measures TOC concentrations up to 50,000 mg/l without dilution. In a special heat resistant ceramic reactor the water sample is evaporated and all carbons are completely oxidized to CO2 gas. Afterwards, the CO2 concentration will be analysed with a Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) detector. Thus, the TC, TOC and TIC can be determined within only 3 minutes.
This ultra high temperature method is used for both, the most challenging and highly contaminated waters (QuickTOCultra, QuickTOCairport) and waters relativily free of solid maters (QuickTOCeffluent). LAR uses the batch injection method with the advantage that the analysers can easily handle sticky, oily and hard to oxidise dissolved and suspended organics resulting in a fast, reliable and accurate analysis. Even with rapidly fluctuating TOC levels the correct TOC concentration will be measured, whereby peaks throughout the course of the day are determined without any memory or adsorption effects.
For applications with purified water, this LAR method allows the patented simplified, ready-at-any-time calibration and validation method (QuickTOCcondensate, QuickTOCpurity, QuickTOCpharma).
Here the TOC is oxidized by means of UV light and a digesting reagent, sodium persulphate, and the produced CO2 is measured with a NDIR detector. This method suits the determination of TOC in clean water (drinking water, condensate, boiler feed water), since particles are hard to oxidize completely.The QuickTOCuv combines this technique with the direct TOC method or Non-Purgable Organic Carbon (NPOC) method, whereby the continuously provided water samples will be treated in a multi stage process.
With this method the water sample is oxidized by means of strong chemicals as oxidants such as ozone, which are slightly dangerous to health and environment. The ozone oxidation acids and bases are used to adjust the pH value of the sample along the pH scale.However, the oxidation potential of such methods is relative, since particles and more complex carbon compounds can only be partially digested or not at all. With regards to the latest standards of occupational safety and environmental protection these methods are not recommended.
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