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​To​tal Organic Carbon 

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) has a long history as being a world-renowned analytical technique to measure water quality during the drinking water purification process. TOC in source waters comes from decaying natural organic matter (NOM) and from synthetic sources. Humic acid, fulvic acid, amines, and urea are types of NOM. Detergents, pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, industrial chemicals, and chlorinated organics are examples of synthetic sources. Before source water is treated for disinfection, TOC provides an important role in quantifying the amount of NOM in the water source. In water treatment facilities, source water is subject to reaction with chloride containing disinfectants. When the raw water is chlorinated, active chlorine compounds (Cl2, HOCl, ClO-) react with NOM to produce chlorinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Many researchers have determined that higher levels of NOM in source water during the disinfection process will increase the amount of carcinogens in the processed drinking water. In the 1970’s TOC analysis emerged as a rapid and accurate alternative to the classical but lengthy biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) tests traditionally reserved for assessing the pollution potential of wastewaters. Today, Environmental Protection Agencies regulate the trace limits of DBPs in drinking water. Recent methods, such as USEPA method 415.3, D/DBP rule, regulate the amount of NOM to prevent the formation of DBPs in finished waters.​​​​​​​

​Total Method​ ​Compliance

Teledyne LABS instruments are guaranteed to meet the requirements of the USEPA or International Standards for which they were designed. In fact, many of our instruments have played key roles in the automation of environmental methods. Many contracted environmental labs outperform their competition and improve their operating margins by increasing the number of samples that can be run with fewer resources when using our instruments. Let us help you stay ahead of your competition with highly reliable instruments and the industry's most responsive team.

A wide variety of environmental samples such as waters (drinking water, waste waters, or natural waters), soils, sediments, and air particulates are analyzed for trace elements.  Regulated elements that may have potentially toxic concentrations in these samples are of particular importance; some notable examples are arsenic, cadmium, lead, and thallium. Meanwhile, soils are monitored as much for nutrient levels as they are for potentially toxic contaminants. Some key nutrients are phosphorous, zinc, copper, sodium, magnesium and calcium. ​

Atomic spectroscopy​ techniques such as ICP-AES and ICP-MS are widely used for measurements of trace elements in environmental samples. ​ Teledyne LABS offers a variety of sample introduction and sample handl​ing​ accessories ​​to improve the quality and efficiency of these ICP-AES and ICP-MS measurements.

Environmental analysis typically contains the following types of samples, but are not limited to:

  • Drinking water
  • Wastewater
  • Natural water
  • Soils
  • Sediments
  • Sludges 

Laboratories conducting 'environmental analysis' often need to comply with regulatory methods emanating from internationally recognized bodies such as US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), European Union (EU), International Standard Organization (ISO) and others.

Environmental solutions for laboratories worldwide include:

  • ​​USEPA Methodologies for sample concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in water, wastewater, and soils.
    • ​​​P​​urge and Trap Systems for soils, water, and wastewater.
      • ​​Preparatory methods 5030, 5035 for use with 8000 series determinative methods, including common methods 8260B & 8260C.
      • ​Drinking water methods 524.2​, 524.3, and 524.4
      • ​Wastewater methods including 624
  • USEPA Methodologies for TOC in drinking and wastewaters.
    • Solutions for the 415 series, including both combustion and UV Pers​ulfate techniques
    • Standard Method 5310 both B and C requirements
  • Hg Methods
    • ISO 17852
    • ISO 16772
    • EPA Method 245.1
    • EPA Method 245.5
    • EPA Method 245.7
    • EPA Method 7470A
    • EPA Method 7471B
    • SM 3112B
    • EN 1483
    • EN13806