CIE360 Environmental Engineering Laboratory Fall 2013

Lab Report 3 Total Organic Carbon Analysis

A Submittal to: Prof. James Jensen Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering University at Buffalo

Presented by:

September 25, 2013

Background
Definition of TOC Total Organic Carbon is a term used to describe the measurement of organic (carbon based) contaminants in a water system. Organic contamination can come from a variety of sources, since "organics" are compounds such as sugar, sucrose, alcohol. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) is a sum measure of the concentration of all organic carbon atoms covalently bonded in the organic molecules of a given sample of water. A typical analysis for TOC measures the Total Carbon (TC) as well as Inorganic Carbon (IC), or carbonate TC-IC=TOC TC: Total Carbon IC: Inorganic Carbon TOC: Total Organic Carbon Another common variant of TOC analysis involves removing the inorganic carbon by purging the acidified sample with carbon-free air prior to measurement, then measuring the remaining carbon. This measurement is more accurately called non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC). The main purpose of the laboratory is to make TOC analysis of Lake LaSalle. To accomplish this 3 samples are measured: 1. 2. 3. 4. Blank 5 mg/L of TOC 10 mg/L of TOC Lake LaSalle (1)

The first three samples responses are measured to plot the calibration curve that is used to determine TOC of Lake LaSalle. The secondary purpose is to quantify the sensitivity of analytical methods by statistical method.

Blank measurements (mc/L C) .09 .12 .15 .09 .06 .12 .15

Measurements of 1 mg/L standard (mg/L C) .9 1.2 1.5 1 .7 1.1 1.6

Table 1: Data for Statistics Calculation

Beers Law A = . L. C A = Absorbance = Molar absorptivity at the wavelength used L = Length C = Sample Concentration. (2)

Methods
Analysis were performed in accordance with Standard Method 5310 Total Organic Carbon (TOC). Total Organic Carbon Analyzer that utilizing persulfate oxidation principle is used to measure TOC. Before the measurement stock solution is prepared with KC8H5O4: 0.8220 g KC8H5O4 IN 200 ml H2O 0.5 ml stock into 200 ml H2O 1.0 ml stock into 200 ml H20
Table 2 : Organic Carbon Stock Solution

TOC 5 mg/L 10 mg/L

Calibration: The analyzer was calibrated by adding blank sample and record saved. (Arbitrary) To start the experiment the analyzer was calibrated, to do this syringe is rinsed with blank sample and bubbles were removed by tapping the sides of it. 0.25 Ml blank was syringed, while setting the value of the IR meter to zero with Zero knob. Blank was injected and recorded the maximum value which is in arbitrary units. Repeated the same procedure with two standards and Lake LaSalle sample.

Results and Discussion

Concentration (mg/L) 0 5 10 20 50 Lake LaSalle Sample
Table 3 : Responses of standards and Lake LaSalle sample

Response 1 3 5 9 27 13.5

Calibration Curve
30 25 20 Response 15 10 5 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Concentration ( mg/L) y = 0.5253x + 0.0696 R = 0.9909

Calibration Curve Linear (Calibration Curve)

Figure 1 : Calibration Curve of TOC Responses

From the calibration curve response of the sample that is taken from Lake LaSalle is y = 0.5253x + 0.0696 13.5 = 0.5253*x + 0.0696 x = 25.567 mg/L So the sample is approximately 6.75 mg/L TOC into 200mL H2O (3)