Hach Lange is offering the IL550 TOC-TN analyser, which reduces costs and speeds analysis rates.
TOC analysis is important in applications such as power generation, wastewater, drinking water, surface water, ultrapure water, agricultural soils, contaminated land and food.
A typical analysis for total organic carbon (TOC) measures both the total carbon present and the inorganic carbon.
This method has traditionally been the preferred analytical technique to measure water quality during the purification process.
COD (chemical oxygen demand) is the total measurement of all chemicals in the water that can be oxidised.
BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) is a longer method that measures the amount of material (or organic carbons) that bacteria can oxidise.
Although closely related to BOD and COD analysis, TOC is important as it is the sole analytical method that can quantify only those species that contain carbon.
For this reason TOC is required by regulations in many industries: for example, as a waste acceptance criterion of hazardous waste, TOC analysis is now compulsory.
It also provides many benefits over BOD and COD, including faster analysis and higher accuracy.
The IL550 can also be used to determine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as well as total organic carbon (TOC) in sewage, river, landfill leachates, effluents and groundwater samples.
Subsequently, it has proved to be an important addition for Hach Lange customers, including the Environment Agency's National Laboratory Services (NLS), South West Water, and laboratory testing services company Chemtest.
At the NLS, much of the analytical work is for regulatory purposes, so it is important that fast, accurate, reliable results are produced.
Richard Yates, inorganic analysis team leader at the NLS, said: 'The high calibration range of the IL550 reduces the number of over-range repeat analyses we have to perform, thereby saving valuable lab time and improving the sampling process.' Tracy Churchill, senior assistant scientist for South West Water, also praised the IL500, by saying: 'Because the analyser has a 'stand-by' mode we are able to leave the instrument on at a reduced temperature, which prolongs the life of the catalyst.
'As a result of these features we have significantly reduced downtime and maintenance costs, because previously we had to replace the catalyst on a fairly regular basis.' A key feature of the IL550 is particle tolerance in liquids.
The autosampler needle has a large internal diameter and the sample is injected directly via the pneumatic port into the furnace, eliminating blockages, cross-contamination or leaks, because there is no septum or valve.
This also removes the need to filter wastewater samples, because the IL550 measures the TOC of both liquid and solid particulates in a sample.
Samples are also stirred prior to injection to ensure homogeneity.
With the IL550, digestion takes place at up to 950C and the solids module can increase the temperature to an unrivalled 1300C.
The UV version is equipped with a high-energy UV lamp, which offers the advantage of direct contact with the sample.
