Tekmar Talk Blog

Introduction to Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

Water purity is critical for a number of industries such as pharmaceutical and semiconductor manufacturing and power generation. The presence of bacteria and other organic compounds in the water can suggest a failure in filtration, storage and other components and systems. Left unfiltered, these compounds can create significant challenges, from damaging expensive industrial system to negatively impacting product quality and threatening profitability. Detecting the presence of these organic contaminants and quantifying their concentration can help protect consumers, industries and the environment.  

For this post, we will focus on how pharmaceutical organizations address these organic threats. Organizations such as the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), Japanese Pharmacopoeia and the European Pharmacopoeia have made Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis the standard test for quality when it comes to water purity and water for injection. The USP has gone as far as making TOC water monitoring a requirement at all stages of the pharmaceutical industry.  

What is Total Organic Carbon (TOC)?

TOC is the measure of the level of organic molecules or contaminants in purified water. TOC is an analytic technique that helps organizations understand whether the water they are using is pure enough for their processes. All water, no matter how pure, contains some carbon materials. Many of these materials are introduced into the water from the water source, or from materials and systems during purification and production. They can also come directly from workers involved in the processes. They may include natural or altered products of living systems or man-made and synthetic compounds.  

What does TOC Measure?

TOC analysis measures the following:

• Total carbon (TC),
• Inorganic carbon (IC),
• Total organic carbon (TOC),
• Purgeable organic carbon (POC) and
• Non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC).

What are the Components of TOC Analysis?

There are three parts of TOC analysis: sampling, oxidation and detection.  
To meet required regulations, it is recommended the sampling system have automatic sampling, acidification, and sparging for TOC analysis, automatic dilution capability and  autocalibration using a single stock standard in order to improve reproducibility and increase throughput.  

To determine the level of TOC, the organic carbons must be oxidized. There are several types of oxidation methods on the market today. These methods, which convert TC into CO₂, include:

• Photocatalytic oxidation: Organics convert to carbon dioxide in the presence of UV light
• Chemical oxidation:  Mix sample with Persulfate in a UV-irradiated chamber to convert organics to carbon dioxide
• High-temperature combustion: Mix sample with oxidation catalyst in a chamber heated to 95-100 degrees Celsius to convert organics to carbon dioxide

Studies suggest that the combination of the Persulfate with the heat and UV light produced more accurate and faster analysis.  

How do you measure TOC?

TOC Analyzers use two types of detection systems, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) and conductivity detectors (direct and membrane). NDIRs, which consist of a light source, cell and a detection portion, are more popular due to stability and interference issues with conductivity detectors. “Both types of conductivity detectors are susceptible to interference from changes in pH and temperature. Also, all conductivity techniques suffer from interferences from gases such as chlorine dioxide, sulfur dioxide or other noxious gases.”[i]  

Why is it Important to Measure TOC?

In the pharmaceutical industry, high purity water is a key ingredient used throughout the production processes. Ensuring that the purity of the water helps to eliminate the impact that bacteria and other organic compounds may have on product quality. Organic compounds combine with other elements to produce molecules that can prove harmful to products and to the environment once the water is discharged. In addition to water purity levels, TOC analysis can also provide validation of the cleaning methods companies use for maintaining drug-manufacturing equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a TOC test tell you?

A TOC test detects the presence of organic contaminants in water and quantifies their concentration.  

What does high total organic carbon mean?

High TOC is an indicator that much of the oxygen in the water has been depleted. This can cause a variety of health issues, including death in animals in streams, rivers and lakes.

What causes high total organic carbon?

High total organic carbon (TOC) is created in water by processes involving animals and decaying plants.