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4.2 BioTector Operation
The BioTector is designed to provide continuous online single-component (e.g. TOC) or multi-component
(e.g. TOC & TN & TP) monitoring. The BioTector can operate with unfiltered samples including soft
particulates up to 2 mm in diameter, and will give accurate measurements even when fats, high levels of salts
and/or calcium is present in the sample.
In BioTector multi-component analyzers, the system can be configured as a;
1) TIC & TOC system to measure the Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
content of a sample. The TOC result obtained from a TIC & TOC system represents the Non-
Purgeable Organic Carbon (NPOC). The TIC & TOC system is the standard system for samples
which does not contain any volatile organic material or for samples which contains insignificant
concentration of volatile organic material.
2) TC system to measure the Total Carbon (TC) content of a sample. The TC result obtained from a TC
system represents the sum of TIC, NPOC and Purgeable Organic Carbon (POC) content.
3) VOC system to measure the TIC, TOC, TC and Volatile Organic Carbon (VOC) contents of a sample
by means of two analysis reactions in single reactor configuration. VOC result represents the
Purgeable Organic Carbon (POC). The TOC result in a VOC system is calculated from the TC and
TIC measurements as TC – TIC. Therefore the TOC result includes the VOC (POC) content of the
sample. In other words, the TOC result represents the sum of NPOC and POC content.
4) TC - TIC system to measure the TIC, TC and TOC contents of a sample by means of single analysis
reaction in a dual reactor configuration. The TOC result in a TC - TIC system is calculated from the
TC and TIC measurements as TC – TIC. Therefore the TOC result includes the VOC (POC) content
of the sample. In other words, the TOC result represents the sum of NPOC and POC content.
TC, VOC and TC-TIC configurations are system optional features.
As a brief introduction, the operation of BioTector analyzers can be summarized as follows:
i. A sample liquid is brought to the analyzer by means of a peristaltic pump. The sample is injected into
the BioTector reactor chamber.
ii. A patented Two Stage Advanced Oxidation process (TSAO) oxidizes the organic material in the
sample.
iii. The carbon dioxide formed in the oxidation process is sparged and measured by a Non-dispersive
Infrared (NDIR) analyzer.
iv. The results are displayed as TIC, TOC, TC and VOC depending on system configuration.
v. The oxidized liquid is discharged and collected in a sample catch-pot and again depending on system
configuration, the Total Nitrogen and/or Total Phosphorus analysis is carried out applying direct
photometric and/or colorimetric methods.
vi. The oxidized liquid collected has a pH typically less than 2. This acidic spent liquid, which has a
typical pink/light brown color, is used to wash and purge the sample tubes by running the BioTector
peristaltic sample pump in reverse direction.
4.2.1 BioTector Oxidation Method
A patented Two Stage Advanced Oxidation process (TSAO), which uses hydroxyl radicals as the oxidizing
agent, is used for the oxidation of the sample.
The hydroxyl radical oxidation is a powerful oxidation technology, which keeps the wetted reactor parts clean
in all types of applications. The acidic oxidized liquid at the end of each reaction is used as a sample tube
cleaning agent, where the sample lines are washed with an automated reverse wash cleaning cycle.
BioTector self cleaning technology using hydroxyl radical oxidation together with the acidic oxidized liquid
cleaning of sample lines ensures that the cleaning of the reactor and the replacement of sample tubing are
not necessary.
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