“Dissolved organic compounds are among the most challenging contaminants to remove because they cannot be seen, filtered, or settled.”

Overview

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) represent dissolved organic constituents that impact water quality, treatment performance, and regulatory compliance.

TOC is a bulk indicator of overall organic loading, including both natural and anthropogenic compounds. VOCs are discrete carbon‑based chemicals—such as solvents, fuels, and by‑products—typically present at low concentrations but often subject to regulation due to health and aesthetic concerns. While different in composition, both require targeted treatment for reliable removal and stable system performance.

Pureflow Treatment Technologies

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)

Granular activated carbon is a primary Pureflow technology for the removal of TOC and VOCs. Through adsorption, GAC captures a broad range of dissolved organics, including synthetic chemicals, taste‑ and odor‑causing compounds, and regulated VOCs.

Pureflow designs GAC systems to optimize contact time, hydraulic performance, and media utilization. Configurations are tailored to the organic profile of the source water, with lead/lag arrangements commonly applied to maintain consistent effluent quality and simplify operations.

Ozone & Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP)

Ozone is applied to oxidize dissolved organic compounds, reducing TOC and transforming complex organics into more biodegradable forms. For persistent contaminants, advanced oxidation processes generate hydroxyl radicals capable of degrading VOCs and other refractory organics.

These systems are selected where oxidation provides an effective treatment pathway for difficult‑to‑remove compounds or variable influent conditions.

Ozone + Biologically Activated Carbon (BAC)

Ozone followed by biological activated carbon provides a combined oxidation and biological treatment approach for sustained organic removal. Ozonation improves biodegradability and reduces TOC, while downstream BAC supports biological degradation and adsorption.

This configuration is applied where long‑term TOC reduction, VOC control, and extended carbon life are required under variable loading conditions.