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Total organic carbon (TOC) analyzers and microbial analyzers are on-line analytical instruments used to monitor and detect contamination in water systems with real-time results. The continuous measurements allow you to react quickly and effectively to any contamination issues, enhancing process control and efficiency. These analyzers are ideal for pharmaceutical waters, power plant cycle chemistry, and microelectronics ultrapure waters.
Production and monitoring equipment for pharmaceutical waters requires careful selection and design to ensure water system process efficiency and control. Find out more in the pharmaceutical waters guide. Read more
Culture-based lab measurements of microbes can create challenges Microbial monitoring in Purified Water, Ultrapure Water and Water for Injection has almost exclusively depended on time-consuming and error-prone culture-based lab measurements. Read more
Measuring conductivity, total organic carbon (TOC), ozone and microbes on-line and in real-time in pharmaceutical waters is growing in importance for optimizing water monitoring. Read more
The METTLER TOLEDO Process Analytics Catalog provides a comprehensive overview of solutions for analytical measurements in liquid process applications, pure water monitoring and gas-phase measurement. Read more
Total organic carbon (TOC) monitoring is vital to Acheson & Acheson, a privately-owned British-based company that designs, formulates, manufactures and supplies cosmetics products to international retailers and global brand owners, including some in the USA. Read more
We support and service your measurement equipment through its entire life-cycle, from installation to preventive maintenance and calibration to equipment repair.
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METTLER TOLEDO total organic carbon analyzers use UV oxidation and differential conductivity measurement to determine organic contamination. High performance digital conductivity sensors take a conductivity measurement before and after a sample of the water is exposed to 185 nanometer UV light. The UV exposure breaks down the bonds in the non-ionic, organic compounds (oxidation) which creates carbon dioxide and water. This further forms carbonic acid, which dissociates into ionic conductive species. The increase in conductivity after oxidation is directly proportional to TOC measurement.
Conductivity measurements are great for identifying ionic contamination, but generally, organic contaminants are non-ionic. Therefore, they cannot be detected with standard conductivity measurements and require a TOC analyzer to adequately measure organic contamination.
TOC analyzers are typically used for measurement throughout the water purification process and at specific points in the water usage process. Key applications where a TOC analyzer can provide benefits include:
There are several different types of water that are used in pharmaceutical production. In each of these, the TOC of water and bioburden in the water system should be properly monitored. Each is used at different steps in the process and has different specifications for purity. Purified Water (PW) is water that has been processed to remove impurities to low levels. Water for Injection (WFI) is water used as an excipient in the production of parenteral medications. Ultrapure Water (UPW) is water that has been purified to extremely low levels of impurities that must meet very strict specifications.
Compared with the on-line measurements available for other parameters required by pharmacopeia regulations, bioburden analysis by plate counting can delay your process significantly. These laboratory-based methods have been around for over a century, and the procedure has mostly stayed the same. A water sample is left on an agar plate for five days or longer, and then the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) is counted. Not only is the method slow, but it only provides a snapshot of the system's water quality at the time the sample was taken.
With an on-line water bioburden analyzer, in-line detection is quicker than lab methods; therefore, you can more quickly change your process when the bioburden in the water unexpectedly increases. This provides continuous data in real time to provide a complete picture of the bioburden load in water systems.
METTLER TOLEDO recommends using a bioburden analyzer in conjunction with plate counting, not as a replacement for place counting.
Several different types of water are used in pharmaceutical production. The TOC of water and bioburden in the water system should be appropriately monitored in each. Each is used at different steps in the process and has different purity specifications: