TOC stands for Total Organic Carbon, which is an analytical parameter representing the concentration of organic carbon in a sample. TOC analysis measures the total amount of organic compounds in water and is used to determine water purification levels in various industries, including pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and power generation. TOC is a highly sensitive, non-specific measurement of all organics present in a sample, and it can be used to regulate the organic chemical discharge to the environment in a manufacturing plant. TOC analysis typically involves three stages: sampling, oxidation, and detection. The following are the components of TOC analysis:

• Total carbon (TC)
• Inorganic carbon (IC)
• Total organic carbon (TOC)
• Purgeable organic carbon (POC)
• Non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC)

TOC analyzers use two types of detection systems, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) and conductivity detectors (direct and membrane) . High TOC is an indicator that much of the oxygen in the water has been depleted, which can cause a variety of health issues, including death in extreme cases.