Experiment 1: Conclusions

Students conducting filtration experiment of Lake Michigan water. Process efficiency is monitored by TOC analysis.

The organic carbon levels are measured in a variety of model compounds and natural compounds to illustrate that, although this is a relatively straightforward measurement, there are many possible causes of variable instrument response. The students learn to calibrate the analytical instrument, to correct for background levels, to assess the validity of their blank measurement, and to construct a standard curve. Some fundamental questions explored and discussed in this laboratory are what is the influence of background carbon levels on unknown samples; what exactly do blank measurements mean; should a standard curve go through the origin and what does this mean; does this method measure all organic carbon equally well?