本国际标准为总碳（TC）、总无机碳（TIC）和总碳的测定提供了指南 饮用水、地下水、地表水、海水和废水中的总有机碳（TOC）。它还定义了 术语和规定了水样的干扰、试剂和样品预处理。 本国际标准中描述的方法适用于含有有机碳含量的水样 范围为0.3 mg/l至1000 mg/l。下限浓度仅适用于特殊情况，例如 饮用水，用高灵敏度仪器测量。在适当的条件下，可以确定更高的浓度 稀释。 本国际标准不涉及仪器相关规范。 可净化的有机物，如苯、甲苯、环己烷和氯仿，也可以使用 这个方法。 当样品中存在氰化物、氰酸盐和元素碳颗粒（烟灰）时，可以一起测定 用有机碳。

This International Standard gives guidance for the determination of total carbon (TC), total inorganic carbon (TIC) and total organic carbon (TOC) in drinking water, ground water, surface water, sea water and waste water. It also defines terms and specifies interferences, reagents, and sample pretreatment for water samples. The method described in this International Standard applies to water samples containing organic carbon content ranging from 0,3 mg/l to 1000 mg/l. The lower limit concentration is only applicable in special cases, for example drinking water, measured by highly sensitive instruments. Higher concentrations may be determined after appropriate dilution. This International Standard does not deal with the instrument-dependent specifications. Purgeable organic substances, such as benzene, toluene, cyclohexane and chloroform, can also be determined using this method. Cyanide, cyanate and particles of elemental carbon (soot), when present in the sample, can be determined together with the organic carbon.