Total Organic Carbon

Method
A quick, inexpensive, and effective process control tool
for determining the organic carbon content of water
The TOC Direct Method from Hach provides a reliable and practical means for water treatment facilities to frequently measure organic carbon to optimize treatment processes.
Instead of purchasing an expensive, traditional TOC analyzer or outsourcing TOC determinations to a contract laboratory, Hachs method can provide TOC results accurately and
inexpensively right at your facility, and without any hazardous waste.
Hachs TOC method is a unique and simplified test developed for the measurement of
organic carbons in a variety of sample matrices. The method involves the oxidation of
sample carbon to carbon dioxide by persulfate digestion. The carbon dioxide diffuses into
a colored pH indicator solution where it is converted to carbonic acid. The resulting color
change is directly proportional to the concentration of carbon present in the sample.

Method Patent Pending

Benefits of the

Hach TOC Method

Affordable. The Hach TOC method requires only a fraction of the investment and
operational costs of a conventional TOC analyzer.
Easy to use. Only minimal training is required to perform the method.
Accurate. The Hach TOC method correlates well to regulatory-approved instrumental
methods on natural waters, drinking water, and wastewater samples.
Non-hazardous. Prepared reagents are contained in screw-capped vials to reduce
laboratory waste and associated disposal problems.

Application in Drinking Water

The Low Range test allows real-time assessment of influent precursors and
responsive treatment adjustment to meet USEPA Disinfection By-Product (DBP)
Rule removal requirements.

Application in Industrial Water Treatment

The Mid Range test is useful in helping operators detect heat exchanger leaks
in cooling water.
The Mid Range test also targets monitoring the pre-treatment of industrial
discharges such as those from food production, animal processing, and paper
and pulp manufacturing to assure compliance and prevent permit excursions.

Application in Wastewater
The Low Range test is a convenient, surrogate measure for COD in final
wastewater effluents.
The Mid Range and High Range tests are useful for measuring the organic loading
of wastewater influents.

Evaluations performed at drinking water and wastewater facilities included comparison measurement of split samples, with results
showing that the new laboratory method provides statistically similar results to traditional methodologies.

Drinking Water Field Evaluation

Evaluation included split samples of source water, post-coagulation water, and final product (distributed water) as samples.
Cooperative drinking water facilities analyzed one-half of the split samples using their UV-Persulfate TOC analyzers. Hach chemists
applied the LR TOC Method to the second half of the split samples. A Students t-test indicated no significant difference at the 95%
confidence level between the data-pair values:

20

UV-P Results, mg/L C

16
12

TOC Correlation:
Drinking Water Treatment
Hachs TOC Method vs.
UV-Persulfate Method

8
4
0
0

10

15

20

Hach TOC Method 10129 results, mg/L C

Wastewater Field Evaluation

Further evaluation included wastewater samples of various industrial matrices (sewage treatment plant influent, cooling tower water,
organic chemical manufacturing waste, food production waste, and paper mill effluent).
Split samples were analyzed using the HR TOC Method and a high temperature oxidation coupled to a coulometric detector (ASTM
method D 4129-88). Statistical evaluation using analysis of variance and a paired-t test at a 95% confidence level reveals no difference
between the colorimetric TOC method and the accepted TOC combustion method.

TOC Combustion, mg/L C

800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100

TOC Correlation:
Wastewater Matrices
Hachs TOC Method vs.
Combustion Method

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

Hach TOC Method 10128, mg/L C

How does the

Hach TOC Method

compare?

Specifications:
Reagents

Range (as C)

Typical Precision

High Range TOC

Mid Range TOC
Low Range TOC

100-700 mg/L
15-150 mg/L
0.3-20 mg/L

14 mg/L @ 350 mg/L

2 mg/L @ 75 mg/L
0.7 mg/L @ 10 mg/L

Interference Studies
Typical substances in drinking water and wastewater matrices were tested using this method and did not show significant interference.
High alkalinity (>1000 mg/L) is overcome by adjusting sample pH to <7 with acid. Most sample turbidity is either dissolved during the
digestion stage or settled during the cooling period. Sample turbidities up to 1000 NTU typically show no interference (HR method).

Oxidation Efficiency
The new method applied to several pure, water-soluble organic standards, traditionally considered hard to digest for TOC yielded
these relative recoveries, compared to potassium acid phthalate (KHP), a common reference standard for TOC analysis:

Compound

Percent Relative Recovery

Caprolactum
Citric Acid
Sodium EDTA
Sodium Hexane-Sulfonate
Hexamethylenetetraamine
Isonicotinic Acid
Leucinol
Sodium Acetate
Sucrose
Tryptophan
Urea
Valine

99.5
98.0
101.0
98.4
98.6
103.2
99.9
101.8
94.6
101.4
101.0
98.2

With the

Hach TOC Method,

testing is easy

1. Add the sample and persulfate to the Digestion Tube.

Persulfate and the digestion reagent oxidize the samples
carbon to carbon dioxide.

4. Digest the assembled unit at 103-105C for two hours.

The carbon dioxide diffuses into the inner ampule, forming
carbonic acid.

2. Insert an opened ampule of pH indicator reagent into the

digestion tube.

5. After cooling, place the complete unit into a suitable

photometer for color measurement.

3. Seal the tube.

6. Compare the sample color to a processed, organic-free

water blank.

Total Organic Carbon

Method
Ordering Information:
27603-45 Total Organic Carbon Direct Method Low Range Test N Tube
Reagent Set (0.3 20 mg/L as C) Includes LR TOC Acid Digestion Solution Reagent
(Test N Tube) Vials, pkg/50; LR TOC Indicator Ampules, pkg/10, 5 packages; TOC Persulfate
Powder Pillows, pkg/50; Buffer Solution, pH 2, 29 mL; TOC Direct Method Quick Reference Card;
Funnel (micro, 35 mm)

To order, call 800.227.4224,

place your order on-line at
www.hach.com, or e-mail
orders@hach.com. For a
quote, fill out the quotation
form on our web site at

28159-45 Total Organic Carbon Direct Method Mid Range Test N Tube
Reagent Set (15 150 mg/L as C) Includes MR TOC Acid Digestion Solution Reagent
(Test N Tube ) Vials, pkg/50; MR/HR TOC Indicator Ampules, pkg/10, 5 packages; TOC Persulfate
Powder Pillows, pkg/50; Buffer Solution, pH 2, 29 ml; TOC Direct Method Quick Reference Card;
Funnel (micro, 35 mm)

www.hach.com and well get

you the information you need,
usually within 24 hours.

27604-45 Total Organic Carbon Direct Method High Range Test N Tube
Reagent Set (100 700 mg/L as C) Includes HR TOC Acid Digestion Solution Reagent
(Test N Tube) Vials, pkg/50; MR/HR TOC Indicator Ampules, pkg/10, 5 packages; TOC Persulfate
Powder Pillows, pkg/50; Buffer Solution, pH 2, 29 mL; TOC Direct Method Quick Reference Card;
Funnel (micro, 35 mm)

For current price information,

technical support and ordering
assistance, contact the Hach

COD Reactor
Perform unattended digestions using automatic-shutoff or continuous operation. Two settings for
temperature control factory-set or user-select. Samples are ready for colorimetric or titrimetric
measurement after a two-hour digestion.

office or distributor serving

your area.

In the United States, contact:

Related Hach Products

DR/4000 Spectrophotometer
Interchangeable sample-handling modules swap out in seconds. Exceptional precision and
reliability. Easy-to-use software with advanced features, including scanning and kinetics
analysis. Procedures will be available with software upgrade package. The DR/4000
(like Odyssey DR/2500) can measure the color change at two wavelengths to provide
30% better sensitivity than other Hach instrument platforms.

HACH COMPANY
P.O. Box 389
Loveland, Colorado 80539-0389
U.S.A.
Telephone: 800-227-4224
Fax: 970-669-2932
E-mail: orders@hach.com
http://www.hach.com

Odyssey DR/2500 Spectrophotometer

For international inquiries, contact:

Laboratory spectrophotometer with an innovative touch screen, automatic wavelength

selection, and adjustable cell management system. With improved optics and a built-in pH
meter, testing performance is maximized. Store up to 1000 data points with Odyssey and
expect brilliant performance. Experience the perfect balance of form and technology.

HACH COMPANY
P.O. Box 389
Loveland, Colorado 80539-0389
U.S.A.
Telephone: 970-669-3050
Fax: 970-669-2932
E-mail: intl@hach.com
http://www.hach.com

DR/800 Colorimeter
Dustproof and waterproof (IP67 standard). Faster testing with on-screen prompting.
Hand-held ergonomic design. For TOC procedures, request literature 8855 (LR), 3925 (MR),
or 8856 (HR).

Lit. No. 1608

D15 Printed in U.S.A.
Hach Company, 2001. All rights reserved