TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON.

ABSTRACT:

Total organic carbon (TOC) is an important analytical technique for determining the amount
of carbon found in an organic compound which is fundamental to know the quality of the
water or the cleaning of pharmaceutical manufacture. In this practice the concentration of
organic and inorganic carbon was determined to two samples, one of phenol and the other of
glycerol which were to 50ppm, for these solutions is used as solvent distilled water, the
amount of total organic carbon in the samples were measured by the team Analytik Jena AG-
Multi N/C® 2100 and then theoretically determined the concentration of carbon present in
each sample.

Key words: carbón organic, technique, compound, phenol, glycerol.

INTRODUCTION

It is called Total Organic Carbon (TOC, acronym in English) to the coal that is part of the
organic substances of surface water. Currently there are many natural and artificial
substances that give rise to the levels of TOC in the environment, however, this substance
can be broken down by microorganisms, during the process of oxygen consumption.

In the laboratory you can directly calculate the amount of Total Organic Carbon in a water
sample, by measuring the amount of carbon dioxide that is released after treatment with
chemical oxidants.

The Total Organic Carbon is a parameter that is used to assess the quality of the waters of a
certain place.

Generally this substance originates naturally in plants and animals as a result of its
metabolism, excretion and decomposition. However, effluents from industries that use
organic compounds are also a significant source of TOC emissions to the environment.[1]

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) includes the sum of all the organic compounds present in the
sample, and as a sum parameter it provides an easy, fast and accurate measure of its level.
Depending on external conditions, a higher concentration of organic compounds can
facilitate microbial growth, affect the functioning of other equipment and favor the formation
of other unwanted and even toxic byproducts.
The measurement of TOC is much more than a quick and simple way to determine the content
of organic compounds in a sample. Given the large amount of organic substances present,
for example, in which it would be virtually impossible to identify and quantify individually,
its overall measurement expressed as TOC is the only way to reach a conclusion about the
current level of contamination by organic compounds in this type of samples. [2]

METHODOLOGY

Start
 I was made the preparation of a solution 50 ppm phenol and another
of 50 ppm of glycerol.

In order to perform the analysis of total organic carbon present in each

of the samples the procedure was carried out in the TOC equipment
Analytik Jena AG - multi N/C® 2100

End

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Calculation of solution Preparation

𝑚𝑔 𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑝𝑝𝑚 =
𝐿 𝑠𝑙𝑛

Solution of phenol
𝑚𝑔 𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑝𝑝𝑚 𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑙 =
𝐿 𝑠𝑙𝑛

𝑚𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 = 50 𝑝𝑝𝑚 ∗ 0,05𝐿

𝑚𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 = 2,5 𝑚𝑔

Solution of glycerol
𝑚
𝑑=
𝑣
𝑚 =𝑑∗𝑣
𝑔
𝑚 = 1,23 ∗ 0,1𝑚𝐿
𝑚𝐿

𝑚 = 0,123 𝑔
𝑚 = 123 𝑚𝑔

𝑚𝑔 𝑑𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑝𝑝𝑚 =
𝐿 𝑠𝑙𝑛
 123 𝑚𝑔
𝑝𝑝𝑚 =
0,05 𝐿

𝑝𝑝𝑚 = 2460 𝑝𝑝𝑚

𝐶1𝑉1 = 𝐶2𝑉2

2460 𝑝𝑝𝑚 ∗ 𝑉1 = 50𝑝𝑝𝑚 ∗ 10𝑚𝐿

𝑉1 = 0,2 𝑚𝐿

20 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠
0,2𝑚𝐿 ∗ = 4 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑙𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑙
1 𝑚𝐿

Total carbon calculations for phenol solution

50𝑚𝑔 1𝑔 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑙 6,023𝑥1023 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑒 𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑙 6 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠 𝐶 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶 12 𝑔 𝐶 1000𝑚𝑔

𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 23
𝑥 𝑥
𝐿 1000𝑚𝑔 94,11 𝑔 𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑙 1𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑙 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑒 𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑙 6,023𝑥10 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠 𝐶 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶 1𝑔

= 38,25𝑚𝑔/𝑙

Total carbon calculations for glycerol solution

50𝑚𝑔 1𝑔 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑔𝑙𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑙 6,023𝑥1023 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑒 𝑔𝑙𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑙 3𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠 𝐶 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶 12 𝑔 𝐶
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
𝐿 1000𝑚𝑔 92,09 𝑔 𝑔𝑙𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑙 1𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑔𝑙𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑙 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑒 𝑔𝑙𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑙 6,023𝑥1023 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠 𝐶 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶

1000𝑚𝑔
𝑥 = 19,54𝑚𝑔/𝐿
1𝑔

% de error

𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

%Error = 𝑥100
theoretical value
19,54 𝑚𝑔/𝐿 − 33,2 𝑚𝑔/𝐿
%Error glycerol = 𝑥100 = 69,9%
19,54 mg/L

38,25 𝑚𝑔/𝐿 − 35,85 𝑚𝑔/𝐿

%Error phenol = 𝑥100 = 6,3%
38,25 mg/L

𝐶𝑂𝑇(𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑜 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙) = 𝐶𝑇(𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑜 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙) − 𝐶𝐼𝑇(𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑜 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙)

 𝑚𝑔
𝐶𝑂𝑇 𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑙 = 35,85 −0
𝐿
𝑚𝑔
𝐶𝑂𝑇 𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑙 = 35,85
𝐿
𝑚𝑔
𝐶𝑂𝑇 𝑔𝑙𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑙 = 33,2 −0
𝐿
𝑚𝑔
𝐶𝑂𝑇 𝑔𝑙𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑙 = 33,2
𝐿

The total organic carbon concentration of the phenol sample should theoretically be 38.25
mg / l for a sample with a concentration of 50 ppm, but experimentally the concentration of
the sample was 35.85 mg / L, this value was obtained by taking the measure of Carbon Total
non-organic in the TOC equipment Analytik Jena AG-Multi N / C® 2100; The error
percentage was 6.3% indicating that the solution was not prepared in a correct way but the
error was not considerable with respect to the solution of the glycerol because this present an
error of 69.9% the concentration theoretically should be of 19.54 ppm for a Concentration of
50 ppm but experimentally the value was 33.2 mg / L This difference in the concentration is
due to the solution is prepared in the incorrect way.

The graphs shown below correspond to the samples of glycerol and phenol are found in the
equipment of total organic carbon Analytik Jena AG-Multi N / C® 2100 where it is observed
that the first graph has to do with the inorganic carbon of the sample but as the concentration
does not surpass the 5ppm it is said that there is no inorganic carbon in the sample but that it
realizes that nothing can be noise. Of the samples, this area under the curve is given by the
equipment.

The accuracy of the concentrations of the samples taken in the equipment was not correct
because this had some faults in terms of its operation, this is reflected in the percentages of
error, hojecer this error is observed more in the sample of glycerol but there is also an error
rate for phenol therefore it can be said that the error can be attributed to incorrect preparation
of the sample or incorrect reading by the team.

Glycerol
Graph 1.Graph obtained, measured curve IC and TC respectively for the sample of
glycerol.

Phenol

Graph 2. Graph obtained for the sample of phenol,measurement of curve IC and TC

respectively .
A COT analyzer determines the amount of carbon in a water sample. Acidifying the sample
and dragging with nitrogen or helium, the sample removes all the inorganic carbon, leaving
only the organic carbon to be measured. TOC analyzers are used as a test of purity as bacteria
introduce organic carbon.[3]

TOC Analysis in analytical chemistry is useful for pharmaceutical analyses, low-level

analysis of water TOC is an important analytical parameter for evaluating water quality,
cleaning validation and developed method. The UV-Persulfate method is most recommended
for its high sensitivity and ease of analysis of low TOC levels (parts per trillion).For the
analysis of wastewater or water samples with a high degree of soil (environmental samples),
we recommend the use of the high temperature combustion analysis technique.[4]

CONCLUSIONS

 The percentage of error for the sample of glycerol was 69.9%, it can be said that
the values of the concentration move way from the theoretical values of the total
carbon concentration, the concentration of total organic carbon for the sample of
the sample Glycerol is 19.54 mg / l and the experimental value is 33.2 mg / L.
This error is attributed to wrong sample preparedness.

 The percentage of error for the phenol sample was 6.3% which indicates that the
data of the theoretical and experimental concentrations of the total organic carbon
were not far away, so it is not a very high percentage of error . The theoretical
total organic carbon concentration for the phenol sample is 38.25 mg / L and the
experimental value is 35.85 mg / L. This error is attributed to wrong sample
preparedness.

INFOGRAPHICS

1. Carbono Orgánico Total (COT) - Industria Química. (2019). Retrieved from

https://www.industriaquimica.es/articulos/20151112/carbono-organico-total-
cot#.XInQWC3SG01
2. Carbono orgánico total (COT)(Como C total o DQO/3) | PRTR España. (2019).
Retrieved from http://www.prtr-es.es/Carbono-organico-total-COTComo-
C,15663,11,2007.html
3. Carbono orgánico total. (2019). Retrieved from
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbono_orgánico_total
4. Marketizer.com, Q. (2019). ¿Qué son los Analizadores de Carbono Orgánico Total
(TOC)? | QuimiNet.com. Retrieved from https://www.quiminet.com/articulos/que-
son-los-analizadores-de-carbono-organico-total-toc-3728303.htm

QUESTIONNAIRE

-What is the method of combustion used in the laboratory experience?

The combustion method used is complete combustion; When asubstance containing carbon
and hydrogen, a hydrocarbon,undergoes full combustion, or burns, oxygen is consumed and
carbon dioxide and water is produced .
The prepared samples undergo combustion at 1, 350C in an oxygen-rich atmosphere. All
carbon present becomes carbon dioxide, flows through gas scrubbing tubes or scrubbers to
eliminate interference such as gaseous chlorine, and water vapor, and carbon dioxide is
measured either by absorption on a strong basis which is then PE Sada, or using an infrared
detector. Most modern analyzers employ non-dispersive infrared (non-dispersive infrared-
NDIR) for carbon dioxide detection.

-What can you say about the quality of the residual water sample based on the TOC
measurement?

No TOC taking for residual water sample

-How accurate was the measurement of TOC in glycerol and phenol solutions? Your
results with the theoretical calculus.

Annex in the analysis