TOC (Total Organic Carbon) Removal System

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal is a water treatment technology designed to remove organic carbon compounds from water. TOC is an important parameter in determining water quality, especially in industries that require high purity water. TOC removal systems can remove various types of organic contaminants such as humus, tannins, lignin, and synthetic organic compounds that can affect the quality of the final product and the efficiency of industrial processes.

What is TOC (Total Organic Carbon)?

TOC or Total Organic Carbon is a measure of the total amount of carbon bound in organic compounds found in water. These compounds can come from various sources such as plant decomposition, industrial waste, pesticides, or other natural organic matter. The presence of TOC in water can cause various problems such as microbial growth, the formation of disinfection by-products, and interference with industrial production processes.

How the TOC Removal System Works

TOC removal from water involves several different methods and technologies, depending on the level of purity required and the characteristics of the water to be treated. Here are some of the main methods used in TOC removal systems:

1. Advanced Oxidation

Advanced oxidation processes use strong oxidizers such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide, or a combination of UV with oxidizers to break down complex organic molecules into simpler molecules that can then be removed by other methods. UV-Ozone technology is particularly effective for oxidizing organic compounds that are difficult to remove by conventional methods.

2. Adsorption with Activated Carbon

Activated carbon has a large surface area and high adsorption ability to organic compounds. Jacobi and Novasorb media offer effective adsorption solutions for TOC removal. This process can be done in two ways:

Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC): Powdered activated carbon that is added directly to water and then separated through filtration.
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): Water is passed through a column of granular activated carbon that captures organic compounds.

3. Ion Exchange

Ion exchange resins, especially strong base anion resins, can remove negatively charged organic compounds from water. Purolite and Trilite resin products have proven effective in TOC removal applications. These resins can be regenerated using salt solutions, making them an economical solution for long-term use.

4. Filtration Membrane

Membrane technologies such as ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO) can remove organic compounds based on their molecular size. DuPont Filmtec, CSM, and Toray membranes offer high efficiency in TOC removal. These membrane systems are often used as the final stage in the water treatment process to produce high-purity water.

5. Biofiltration

The biofiltration process uses microorganisms growing on the filter media to degrade organic compounds. This method is environmentally friendly and effective for water treatment with high TOC content, although it requires longer contact time.

Main Components of TOC Removal System

A comprehensive TOC removal system usually consists of several key components:

Pretreatment system: Removes suspended particles and other contaminants that can interfere with the TOC removal process.
Oxidation unit: Uses Hydropro or Wedeco UV systems to break down complex organic molecules
Activated carbon filter: Uses Jacobi media in a Pentair tank with a Fleck control valve
Ion exchange system: Uses Purolite resin to remove charged organic compounds
Membrane system: Using DuPont Filmtec membranes in a Codeline pressure vessel
High pressure pump: Like Fluidotech for the membrane system
Monitoring and control system: Using Create instruments to monitor water quality and system performance
Chemical dosing system: Using LMI dosing pumps to add treatment chemicals

TOC Removal System Application

TOC removal technology is used in various industries and applications that require high purity water:

Industrial Applications

Pharmaceutical Industry: Requires water with very low TOC content for drug production and equipment cleaning processes
Microelectronics Industry: Production of semiconductors and electronic components requires ultrapure water with TOC content below 1 ppb
Power Generation Industry: Reduces corrosion and deposit formation in boilers and cooling systems
Food and Beverage Industry: Ensure product quality and prevent microbiological contamination
Chemical Industry: Provides high-quality process water for chemical synthesis and product formulation
Electroplating Industry: Prevents contamination in electroplating and metal plating processes

Commercial Applications

Laboratories: Provides high quality water for analysis and research
Hospitals: For equipment sterilization and medical applications that require pure water
Data Centers: Cooling systems that require water with low organic content
Hotels and Restaurants: Improving water quality for consumption and food processing

Environmental Applications

Wastewater Treatment: Removing organic compounds prior to discharge or recycling
Groundwater Remediation: Cleaning up groundwater contaminated with organic compounds
Water Recycling Systems: Enables water reuse by removing organic contaminants

Benefits of TOC Removal Systems

The implementation of a TOC removal system provides various benefits to industries and applications that require high-quality water:

Technical Benefits

Improved Product Quality: Water with low TOC content reduces the risk of product contamination
Extended Equipment Life: Reduced fouling and corrosion in membrane systems, boilers, and cooling systems
Reduced Biofilm Formation: Reduced substrate for microbial growth in water distribution systems
Disinfection Process Optimization: Reduced chlorine demand and formation of harmful disinfection by-products
Regulatory Compliance: Meet increasingly stringent water quality standards for the pharmaceutical, food, and electronics industries

Economic Benefits

Reduced Operating Costs: Reduced treatment chemical requirements and system cleaning frequency
Energy Savings: Clean systems operate more efficiently with lower energy requirements
Downtime Reduction: Reduced system maintenance and cleaning requirements
Membrane and Resin Life Extension: Effective pretreatment increases the life of water treatment system components
Increased Product Yield: Especially in the pharmaceutical and electronics industries where water purity is critical

Environmental Benefits

Chemical Waste Reduction: Reduces the use of processing chemicals
Water Conservation: Enables recycling and reuse of process water
Carbon Footprint Reduction: Efficient systems use less energy and resources
Ecosystem Protection: Reduces the release of organic compounds into the environment

TOC Removal System Design Considerations

Designing an effective TOC removal system requires consideration of several important factors:

Raw Water Characteristics: TOC concentration and type, pH, turbidity, and other water quality parameters
Water Quality Targets: Purity level required for the specific application
System Capacity: Volume of water that needs to be treated per unit time
Integration with Existing Treatment Systems: Compatibility with upstream and downstream processes
Maintenance Requirements: Frequency of regeneration, media replacement, and system cleaning
Life Cycle Costs: Initial investment, operational costs, and maintenance costs
Space Limitations: Available space for system installation

Current Technology in TOC Removal

Technological developments continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of TOC removal systems: