From environmental analysis to pharmaceutical water: A comprehensive overview of the TOC Applications

TOC Analyzers are used to determine the Total Carbon as well as the Total Inorganic carbon present in a sample. The technique used by the analyzers is used to determine the proportion of both non-volatile as well as volatile compounds. In procedures such as wastewater management, TOC determination measures the sample for low or high TOC content. TOC analyzer are used in a wide range of industries including the management of effluent, ultrapure water, management of pharmaceutical water, drug manufacturing process, environmental investigations of soils and river water, and the evaluation of cleaning efficiency.

How do TOC works?

For TOC analyzers, that account for the total as well as the inorganic carbon, there is a two-stage analysis technique, called TC-IC. This process is used to measure the total amount of inorganic carbon evolved from an acidified aliquot. On the other hand, there is another technique known as the TIC-NPOC analysis method. Nevertheless, whether it is by the NPOC method or the TC-IC method, the analysis of the Total Organic Carbon can be broken into three main stages.

#1 Acidification

In the acidification process, the removal of PC and IC gases occurs. Here an acid is added and the inert gas sparing transforms all the bicarbonates and carbonates ions into carbon dioxide. After that, the IC product is then vented along with any sparse purge able organic carbon present in the mixture.

#2 Oxidation

In the TOC analysis process, step-by-step oxidation occurs through a series of processes in the chronological order of their high-temperature combustion. The processes in their order can be listed as:

High-temperature catalytic oxidation or HTCO
Photo Oxidation
Thermo-chemical oxidation
Photochemical oxidation
Electrolytic oxidation

#3 Detection and Quantification

In the TOC analysis process, accurate detection and quantification are the most critical components. Typically there are two usual detection methods used in the new-age TOC analyzers. The typical detection methods include conductivity techniques and non-dispersive infrared or NDIR methods. There are essentially two types of analyzers. The former one uses combustion for analysis purposes, whereas the other one uses chemical oxidation. Generally, in the second process, the water purity is tested to detect the presence of organic carbon or the unwanted pathogens present in the sample.

Just like the TOC analyzer, there are other reliable methods as well like the N/C technique reliable which is versatile and easy to use. It is a brilliant series that offers insightful user guidance with precise analytical work.

The bottom line

Elemental chemistry has witnessed some unprecedented dynamism in the past few decades. The purity of a sample or substance is of critical value in the world of manufacturing and manufacturers all across the globe are using oxidation techniques including TOC analyzers to understand the purity of water. Undoubtedly, TOC analyzers are of paramount significance, but accuracy is everything when you are working with elemental analysis. Always opt for the professionals when you are seeking TOC analysis, and the results will always come up to be reliable.

Frequently Asked Questions:

· What is ICP-OES?

ICP optical emission spectrophotometers (ICP-OES) began to be widely used, and is now one of the most versatile methods of inorganic analysis. Its features are often compared to atomic absorption spectrophotometers.

· What is ICP-OES Principle?

ICP, an abbreviation for Inductively Coupled Plasma, is one method of optical emission spectrometry. When plasma energy is given to an analysis sample from outside, the component elements (atoms) are excited. When the excited atoms return to low energy position, emission rays (spectrum rays) are released and the emission rays that correspond to the photon wavelength are measured.

· How does ICP-OES work?

ICP-OES works by first using a peristaltic pump to conduct the sample through a nebulizer and into a spray chamber. After being converted into an aerosol, it is fed into an argon plasma via the use of a cooled induction coil, which induces an alternating magnetic field and sends accelerated electrons into a circular trajectory.

· What is ICP-OES used for?

The technique of ICP-OES is employed in a wide variety of industries for a number of different applications. For example, it is commonly used in the oil extraction and refinery sectors to analyses oil samples for impurities in the commodity.

· What are Common problems with ICP-OES?

Common problems with ICP-OES are:

1. Poor precision

2. Sample drift

3. Non-ideal detection

4. Inaccurate identification

· What is the difference between ICP-OES vs ICP-MS?

ICP-OES is often compared to ICP-MS. ICP-MS operates using many of the same principles as ICP-OES, except that the detection of elements from the aerosolized and ionized sample occurs via mass spectral analysis rather than being based on photon emission.

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