Online TOC Analysis of Vegetable Oils and Animal Fats in Waste Water

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DÜPERTHAL Sicherheitstechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Shimadzu Deutschland GmbH

Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH

LAR Process Analysers AG

Case Study: Treating Chemical Waste Water

A big industrial production facility develops biodegradable chemicals from renewable raw materials, such as vegetable oils and animal fats. It produces base oleochem products such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols and glycerine, as well as oleochemical specialties such as esters, dimmers, isostearic acid, ketones, conjugated fatty acid and technical oils. Among other waste water treatment techniques, the plant uses two oil and fat separators that operate in a parallel configuration. The influent water is warm and contains a high load of mainly oils and fats. ODS Sampling and Analytical Systems was asked to design a complete online oil-in-water analyser system.

Direct TOC Analysis of Waste Water

Most online oil-in-water analysis methods are based on indirect measurements. They are only suitable for certain types of oil (fluorescence) or respond to oil droplets (light scattering). A TOC analyser, however, uses a direct measurement method. It determines the organic carbon content of all organic species in the water, regardless of their origin, composition, phase or consistency. It is actually a hydrocarbon counter and therefore, the TOC analysis method can be considered as an oil-in-water method as well.

Most types of TOC analysers have an upper range limitation of 2,000 mg C/litre. To achieve higher ranges, the sample must be diluted with demineralised water. Because oil and water do not mix, sample dilution techniques cannot be used, as the resulting analysis would be too poor.

But there is a common problem most analysers have in common – the memory effect... More on page 3!

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