TOC, COD & SAC Analyzers

TOC, COD & SAC Analyzers

TOC, COD, and SAC analyzers provide continuous insight into organic load in water and wastewater systems using complementary measurement concepts. TOC quantifies total organic carbon, COD estimates oxygen demand for chemical oxidation, and SAC (spectral absorption coefficient, often UV-based) offers a fast optical surrogate correlated to certain organic constituents. Together, these parameters support early detection of contamination and optimization of treatment processes.

The key benefit is rapid recognition of organic excursions that can overwhelm treatment capacity, violate discharge limits, or compromise product and utility quality. Continuous organic monitoring supports proactive control actions such as diverting off-spec streams, adjusting treatment dosing, or protecting sensitive downstream processes. It also reduces reliance on delayed lab results for time-critical decisions.

TOC analyzers typically oxidize organic compounds (via UV/persulfate, catalytic combustion, or comparable methods) and quantify resulting CO₂ with stable detection techniques. COD analyzers may use controlled chemical oxidation with defined reagents and photometric or titrimetric evaluation, providing a robust process-correlated metric. SAC measurement often uses UV absorbance (commonly around 254 nm) without reagents, making it attractive for high-frequency trending and event detection.

Successful application depends on matching method and range to the matrix, controlling sample conditioning, and managing interferences such as turbidity, color, and inorganic carbon for TOC methods. Automated calibration checks, reagent management (where applicable), and diagnostic tracking strengthen long-term reliability. Data is commonly used both for control (diversion, dosing, aeration load management) and for reporting/archiving requirements.

Typical applications include drinking water source monitoring, wastewater influent/effluent organic load tracking, industrial pretreatment, and protection of high-purity water systems in pharmaceuticals and microelectronics. SAC can provide early warning for raw water events, while TOC offers traceable quantification for compliance and product-critical utilities. Used together with flow measurement and targeted sampling, organic analyzers form a powerful framework for both operational control and regulatory confidence.

Instrumentation and Controls., an exclusive authorized representative of sales and service for Endress+Hauser.