Totaluorganisk

Totaluorganisk is a term used in environmental science and materials chemistry to denote the total inorganic content of a sample, excluding organic material. The concept is used as a counterpart to measures such as total organic carbon (TOC) when a comprehensive characterization of a sample's composition is required. The term is derived from the English word "total" and the Nordic word "uorganisk" for inorganic; it has appeared in scholarly discussions since the early 2010s, particularly in Scandinavian journals.

Definition and scope: Totaluorganisk encompasses inorganic salts, oxides, metals, minerals, and inorganic carbon species (such as carbonate and bicarbonate) that are present in a matrix. Definitions vary by lab, but many implementations describe it as the sum of inorganic constituents detected by standard inorganic analytical methods, excluding any organic carbon.

Measurement and reporting: Analytical approaches include inductively coupled plasma techniques (ICP-OES or ICP-MS) for metals, ion chromatography for inorganic anions, gravimetric determinations for solids, and inorganic carbon analysis for carbonate species. Results are typically reported as concentration (mg/L or mg/kg) or as a mass percentage of the sample, and may be combined with organic measurements to yield total solids.

Applications and significance: Totaluorganisk is used in environmental monitoring of soils and waters, mining and tailings assessments, corrosion studies, and in materials science where inorganic content influences properties. Its utility depends on consistent definitions and compatible methods with TOC and TIC measurements.