Oil-in-Water Applications

LAR Process Analysers (Germany) have introduced the QuickTOC, a proven oil-in-water analyser. Factories, refineries and the like that use oils for production or that process oils need a reliable, continuous monitoring system to prevent any leakages into the waste water. This enables them to take prompt action, preventing the loss of valuable goods and breakthroughs, as well as protecting WWTPs' biomasses.

There are many oil-in-water analysers available on the market. However, most of these analysers are based upon indirect measurement methods, like the fluorescene and scattered light methods, that need to be correlated to the applicable oil-in-water laboratory method. Also, these analysers are not able to measure all types of oil, as they are developed for specific usage and for certain applications.

On the other hand, Total Organic Carbon analysers measure all types of oil, independently of their composition, state or origin. It is a direct sum parameter method, responding to all organic hydrocarbon species. However, not all TOC analysers are suitable for oily applications. The sticky oil sample easily contaminates analyser parts, causing memory effects and as a result relatively clean samples are systematically measured as being too high.

Most analysers have a limited measurement range of up to 2,000 mg C/litre. Higher ranges are only achieved by use of sample dilution, which is obviously an intolerable technique for oily samples, as oil and water do not mix. LAR's QuickTOC analyser, offers a solid solution for these most challenging applications. The QuickTOC has the great advantage that only the injection needle can get contaminated by the oils in the sample, but since the needle is flushed instantaneously after every sample injection, the absorption, carry over and memory effects are minimised. Furthermore, the QuickTOC is able to measure ranges from 10 up to 50,000 mg C/l, without using dilution or other pretreatment techniques.

This analyser supports factories and refineries in their crucial need for a dependable online solution that is able to provide accurate concentration readings of such a complicated compound like oil as one single value. Hundreds of LAR's analysers and in particular the QuickTOC are successfully in operation worldwide.