Overview
ISO 8245:1999 – Water quality - Guidelines for the determination of total organic carbon (TOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) provides standardized procedures for measuring total carbon (TC), total inorganic carbon (TIC), and total organic carbon (TOC) in various water types, including drinking water, ground water, surface water, sea water, and wastewater. The standard is aimed at laboratories, water utilities, environmental agencies, and industries involved in water analysis and quality monitoring.
The guideline covers the principles of quantifying TOC and DOC, defines relevant terms, and specifies essential aspects such as interferences, reagent selection, sample handling, and pretreatment. ISO 8245:1999 is applicable to a wide range of organic carbon concentrations (0.3 mg/l to 1000 mg/l), providing flexibility for both low and high pollution scenarios through sample dilution as needed.
Key Topics
- TOC, TIC, and TC Determination: Explains methods for measuring total carbon, total inorganic carbon, and total organic carbon, essential for assessing water pollution and organic content.
- Scope of Application: Suitable for multiple water matrices-from ultra-pure drinking water to industrial and municipal wastewater.
- Sample Collection and Pretreatment:
- Emphasizes representative sampling and contamination prevention.
- Provides detailed guidance on sample preservation, storage, and necessary filtration for DOC (using 0.45 µm membrane).
- Interferences: Discusses potential analytical interferences, such as presence of cyanide, cyanate, soot, and purgeable organic substances like benzene and toluene.
- Calibration and Quality Control: Describes the use of certified reagents and control solutions for system verification and accuracy assurance.
- Analytical Procedure: Outlines steps for instrument calibration, control procedures, and the actual determination of TOC and DOC.
- Reporting Requirements: Specifies the necessary elements for comprehensive test documentation and compliance.
Applications
ISO 8245:1999 offers significant practical value in a range of water quality management contexts, including:
- Environmental Monitoring: Ensures reliable detection of organic contaminants in natural and treated waters, supporting regulatory compliance and environmental protection.
- Industrial Effluent Control: Vital for industries discharging wastewater, providing standardized data for monitoring organic load.
- Drinking Water Quality: Facilitates sensitive detection of organic carbon in potable water, supporting public health objectives.
- Research and Laboratory Analysis: Provides robust methodology for academic, commercial, and governmental laboratories involved in water chemistry studies.
- Wastewater Treatment Optimization: Enables assessment of treatment efficacy by tracking changes in organic carbon content.
Related Standards
For comprehensive water quality analysis, ISO 8245:1999 is often used alongside key related standards and guidance documents, including:
- ISO 5667-3: Water quality - Sampling - Part 3: Guidance on the preservation and handling of water samples. Essential for proper sampling procedures and sample integrity.
- ISO/TR 13530: Water quality - Guide to analytical quality control for water analysis. Recommended for laboratories seeking to implement or maintain analytical precision and accuracy.
- Other ISO 147 Series Standards: Various standards from ISO/TC 147 (Water quality) addressing physical, chemical, and biochemical analytical methods.
- National or Regional Methods: Such as those issued by EPA, ASTM, or European Standards (EN) relevant to TOC or DOC determination.
By implementing ISO 8245:1999, water quality laboratories and related stakeholders can achieve consistent, accurate, and internationally recognized results for the determination of total organic carbon, supporting effective water management and environmental stewardship.