Method and apparatus for measuring the amount of carbon and other organics in an aqueous solution

An apparatus for measuring the amount of oxidizable chemicals in a solution, comprising:

• first means for supplying a test solution
• second means connected to said first means for introducing an oxidizer into the test solution;
• means defining a source of oxygen connected to and communicating with a third means, said third means introducing oxygen into the test solution, in said first means, prior to irradiation of the test solution;
• a multistage reactor, said reactor having a plurality of individual, separated stages, each of said stages having an input aperture and an output aperture, each of said stages having an ultraviolet lamp at least partly internal to said stage, said lamp being adapted to directly contact the test solution, said input apertures being lower than said output apertures to permit oxygen introduced into the test solution to scrub off insoluble gases formed by oxidation of the test sample, said input aperture of the initial said stage being in fluid communication with said first, second and third means, conduit means being connected to said output aperture of each stage and being in fluid communication with said input aperture of the succeeding said stage, said output aperture of the final said stage being in fluid communication with a reactor output;
• and
• detector means for detecting carbon dioxide, said detector means being in fluid communication with said reactor output.