The determination of total organic matter (carbon content) in aqueous media. Part I. Organic matter in aqueous plant streams

Abstract

The determination of total organic matter (carbon content) in aqueous liquors that are re-cycled in (or rejected from) organic chemical manufacturing processes is necessary so that the carbon balance can be calculated. A rapid method has been developed that involves the injection of the aqueous solution into a combustion tube containing copper(II) oxide, where all of the organic matter is oxidised to carbon dioxide; this is swept, with added hydrogen, through a catalyst to reduce it to methane, which is determined by using a flame-ionisation detector. Each test with 2 µl of sample containing 1 to 10 µg of carbon takes about 2 minutes. The reproducibility is estimated to be about ±5 per cent. of carbon content, which is adequate for the analysis of plant side streams.