How Total Organic Carbon Analysis Works & How We Save You Time & Money

The Advantages of Excedr’s TOC Analyzer Leasing Program:

• Eliminates the upfront cost of purchasing equipment by spreading its cost over time
• Minimizes equipment downtime with included complete repair coverage and preventive maintenance
• Takes advantage of potentially 100% tax deductible* payments, providing you significant cash-savings
• Expedites the administrative work needed for instrument procurement and logistics
• Conserves working capital,  enabling you to reinvest in your core business and operations (staffing, inventory, marketing/sales, etc.)
• Accommodates all manufacturer and model preferences

*Please consult your tax advisor to determine the full tax implications of leasing equipment.

Since the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, wastewater treatment processes have become increasingly strict, and for good reason.

Stringent requirements for water quality ultimately benefit manufacturers, consumers and the environment. However, maintaining clean water is an ongoing challenge as increasing populations and growing industries use more water and produce more wastewater. It makes improving the efficiency of removing byproducts and pollutants to meet established environmental regulatory limits that much more important and necessary.

Testing water purity, and maintaining water quality in general, is not only important for clean drinking water, but it also plays a big role in the pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and power industries’ manufacturing processes. If bacteria and other unintended organic compounds are present in the water, they can render the water useless or indicate that there is an issue with the filtration or storage system. 

When ignored, this tainted water can be detrimental to whatever process it is a part of, even leading to breaks in various industrial equipment. This makes monitoring various impurities in water essential to commercial industries as well as public ones. 

Total organic carbon (TOC) refers to the amount of carbon that is present in an organic compound. Measuring how much organic carbon is present in a substance also quantifies the amount of organic matter that is present. Though TOC is most often related to water analysis and water treatment, it can also refer to the amount of carbon present in soil and other geological formations. Simply put, TOC is used to track the change—or lack of change—of organic content within a sample.

While TOC is a fairly ubiquitous term for carbon analysis, there are more specific terms that are used depending on the type of carbon being measured, including:

• Total Carbon (TC): The total of all carbon present in a sample.
• Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC): Sometimes referred to as just inorganic carbon (IC), carbonate, bicarbonate, and dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Elemental Carbon (EC): Depending on the method used, EC can be a subcategory of TIC or TOC. It is also known as black carbon depending on the measurement method used.
• Non-Purgeable Organic Carbon (NPOC): Denotes the amount of organic carbon that remains after an acidified sample is purged with gas.
• Purgeable (volatile) Organic Compound (VOC): Refers to the amount of organic carbon that is removed from a neutral or acidic sample with an inert gas.
• Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC): Indicates the amount of carbon that is in a sample after it is filtered.
• Suspended Organic Carbon: Tracks the number of carbon particles that are too large to pass through a filter. This is also known as particulate organic carbon (POC).

As you can see, TOC analysis is performed in a variety of ways, some of which we will cover below.

Total organic carbon analyzers are instruments that measure TOC concentration in a sample. Almost all of them track CO2 formation both when organic carbon is oxidized and when inorganic carbon is acidified. 

The specifics of the oxidation and acidification will vary depending on the environment of the sample, the concentration of TOC, and the testing parameters. Oxidation can be achieved through multiple methods. Some examples include Pt-catalyzed combustion and UV/persulfate oxidation. 

After oxidation has occurred, a detector, either a conductivity cell or a non-dispersive infrared cell, then measures the amount of CO2 that has formed. Detecting organic carbon through acidification occurs by first flushing the inorganic carbon out of the sample with either helium or nitrogen and then measuring the remaining organic carbons. 

TOC analysers can be organized into one of two types: combustion analyzers and chemical oxidation analyzers.

Whatever your TOC measurement needs, we can help. We offer both leases and sale-leasebacks on TOC analyzers, CO² incubators, and more. Call us at +1 888-927-3802 or fill out our contact form online and we can discuss in further detail your exact needs. Additionally, our comprehensive service plans mean instrument calibration and maintenance are covered.

Operating Lease

This off-balance sheet financing structure provides three options at the end of the term. The lessee has the option to return the equipment to the lessor, renew at a discounted rate, or purchase the instrument for the fair market value. Monthly payments are also 100% tax deductible which yields additional monetary savings.

Sale-Leaseback

If you recently bought equipment, Excedr can offer you cash for your device and convert your purchase into a long-term rental. This is called a sale leaseback. If you’ve paid for equipment within the last ninety days, we can help you recoup your investment and allow you to make low monthly payments. This also frees up money in your budget rather than tying it down to a fixed asset.