TOC, COD & SAC Analyzers

TOC, COD & SAC Analyzers

TOC, COD, and SAC measurement systems assess organic load in water and wastewater streams to support compliance, treatment control, and environmental reporting. These parameters capture organic contamination as total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and spectral absorption coefficient (SAC), providing both regulatory metrics and actionable operational indicators.

Technology choice depends on whether “true” analytical values or robust equivalence trends are required. COD is commonly measured via colorimetric digestion methods where sample oxidation produces a measurable color change read photometrically. TOC measurement may use high-temperature catalytic combustion with infrared detection of generated CO₂ after removal of inorganic carbon, while SAC uses UV absorption (commonly at 254 nm with a reference wavelength) to infer organic content without reagents.

Continuous organic-load measurement at plant inlets helps avoid shock loads, supports proactive control responses, and can protect downstream biological processes. At outlets, it supports permit compliance and reduces the risk of sustained exceedances. Optical SAC monitoring also offers reagent-free measurement for cost-efficient trend tracking where wastewater characteristics are relatively stable.

Applications include surface water and river monitoring, municipal and industrial wastewater influent/effluent tracking, and industrial discharge oversight where billing or capacity planning depends on organic loading. Low-range TOC monitoring is also used in high-purity water systems where trace organic contamination is critical, including power and certain life sciences operations.

Engineering considerations include representative sampling and conditioning, reagent management where applicable, and aligning measurement frequency and maintenance strategy to the variability and solids content of the stream. Modular platforms can incorporate additional digital sensors at the same station to provide broader context for diagnosing organic-load excursions.

Engineered Equipment Company, a leading supplier of specialized industrial equipment.