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Lab Trends

2016 TOC Analyzers Survey Results

Find out the top ten features and more from our latest TOC analyzer survey results.

by Ryan Ackerman

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzers are a mainstay of environmental and quality control chemistry. TOC, a crucial metric in many processes, may arise from a combination of living or dead organisms or chemical contamination. Its measurement can serve as a surrogate for more difficult measurements or a screen for further analysis.

Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a TOC Analyzer

  1. Is the TOC technology suitable for your specific application or water conditions? Many TOC technologies may be suitable only for waters with a narrow range of organic or inorganic contaminants.
  2. Are different models available to meet your current and future sampling needs (i.e. online, portable, laboratory)? Do these models use similar technology to simplify method transfer or data comparability from lab to online?
  3. Does the company offer the documentation and support necessary to help meet applicable industry or government regulations?
  4. What is the company’s level of experience supporting sales of TOC analyzers in your specific industry? Do they understand the unique challenges specific to your application?
  5. What type of service, applications, and technical support are available during and after the purchasing process?

Types of TOC Analyzer used by survey respondents:

Benchtop 94%
Portable 12%
Online 12%

Methods used by survey respondents to detect CO2:

Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) 52%
Direct Conductometric (Non-Selective Conductometric) 27%
Membrane Conductometric Detection (Selective Conductometric) 19%
Other 10%

Over 54 % of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new TOC analyzer. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:

Replacement of an aging system
41%
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity
16%
Setting up a new lab
13%
First time purchase
13%
Other
16%

Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing a titrator:

Accuracy and performance of results 90%
Ease-of-use 80%
Service and support provided by vendor 54%
Warranty 53%
Easy access to UV lamp with diagnostics and lamp expiration alarm 50%
Low maintenance costs 46%
Continuous analysis and rapid display updates 44%
Ease of installation 41%
Automated self-diagnosis tools 38%
Speed of analysis 36%

For more information on titrators, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/TOC-analyzers

See the most recent survey results here