A method for determining the total organic carbon in a sample which includes mixing the sample with a reagent containing at least one acid effective for reacting with inorganic carbon-containing materials in the sample, and at least one oxidizing agent effective for oxidizing organic carbon-containing materials in the sample in the presence of ultraviolet radiation, and detecting the carbon dioxide generated, is described. The at least one acid may include phosphoric acid, while the oxidizing agent may include sodium persulfate. In accordance with an embodiment of the inventive concept, the sample is first injected into a reaction chamber, which is continuously flushed with carbon dioxide free gas with no UV light present, and CO2 generated from any inorganic carbon in the sample as carbonates is flowed through the detector, and may be recorded. Subsequent to this step, the UV light is passed through the reaction chamber and CO2 generated from the reaction of the at least one oxidizing agent with the organic material in the solution in the presence of ultraviolet radiation, is flowed through the detector, which may be a non-dispersive infrared detector, after the reaction chamber is sparged using a carbon dioxide free gas, and recorded.