When this test applies
As a screening and verification measure inside a chemical characterisation programme. TOC gives one number for the total organic burden in an aqueous extract, which makes it useful early — before committing to the full identification work — and useful again at the end, as a check that successive extractions have driven the recoverable organics down.
When to run it
Early, as an inexpensive read on whether there is much to find, or alongside a full profile as a mass-balance check. It is not a substitute for the identification arms: if TOC comes back high, the next question is what is it, and only VOC, SVOC and NVOC analysis answers that.
What the result gives you
A quantified total organic carbon value for the aqueous extract, with the extraction conditions documented. Read against a control and against successive extractions, it tells you the size of the organic burden and whether it is falling.
What it does not settle
TOC identifies nothing. A single number cannot be assessed against a tolerable exposure, because tolerable exposure is per constituent — so TOC never closes a toxicological question on its own. It is also aqueous only: organics that water does not recover are invisible to it, which is why the IPA and hexane arms of the profile exist.
Method
Device extraction per the O.I. protocol, with the aqueous extract analysed for total organic carbon by TOC analyser.
Where it runs
This analysis is subcontracted to an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, GLP certified laboratory, and the report is issued under Groenakker cover, in Groenakker’s report template or in your document template on request at no extra cost.
Usually ordered alongside
The identification arms of the profile — VOC, SVOC and NVOC across water, IPA and hexane — and an ISO 10993-17 assessment to interpret them. Non-volatile residue is the gravimetric counterpart to this measurement.
