Wastewater management is an increasingly crucial aspect of environmental protection as organic contaminants from agriculture, industry, and domestic sources continue to impact water quality. Among the key indicators used to evaluate water pollution levels, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) stands out as a reliable parameter for assessing the presence of organic matter in water.
TOC analysis in wastewater is fundamental in regulatory compliance and environmental monitoring, helping ensure that effluents meet environmental standards. Alongside TOC, Total Carbon (TC) determination provides a comprehensive view of the carbon content in aqueous matrices.
The Role of TOC in Water Quality Assessment
TOC in wastewater originates from a wide range of sources—decaying plant residues, industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and domestic sewage. Monitoring TOC levels is essential for:
- Evaluating water contamination levels and ecological risk
- Supporting wastewater treatment process optimization
- Complying with international environmental regulations
EN ISO 20236:2021 is one of the primary reference methods for TOC determination, based on high-temperature catalytic oxidation and subsequent CO₂ detection via infrared spectrometry.
Accurate TOC and TC Determinations with Elemental Analysis
VELP's CN 802 Carbon/Nitrogen Elemental Analyzer, equipped with the innovative HighSensIR detection system, offers high-sensitivity detection over a wide carbon concentration range—making it an ideal solution for the routine determination of TOC and TC in wastewater samples, both high and low in carbon content.
Depending on sample characteristics, laboratories can choose between two effective methods:
For mid-to-high carbon concentrations (e.g. >100 ppm), TOC can be determined by weighing homogenized samples into tin capsules. This approach is ideal for laboratories performing high-throughput
analyses as it enables automated analysis, ensuring speed and reproducibility.
- Method 2 – Direct Injection by Syringe
For samples with low TOC content (<100 ppm), direct syringe injection ensures maximum sensitivity and accuracy, thanks to minimal carbon loss and optimized detection in the low ppm range. The manual dosing liquids sample kit allows direct sample delivery to the combustion chamber, bypassing the encapsulation step.
➡️ THIS APPLICATION NOTE ⬅️ provides a complete guide to the TOC and TC determination in wastewater, illustrating sample preparation procedures, analytical workflows, and method selection.
Ready to improve your environmental analysis with accurate TOC and TC determination? Contact us, and our application specialists will support your laboratory with expert advice and tailored solutions.