Dilution in analytical chemistry usually refers to intentionally adding a known amount of solvent or reagent to decrease the concentration of analytes in a sample.

The solid-liquid extraction you're describing does not typlically involve diluiting the sample extract.

The prompt on the TOC analyzer to enter a dilution factor is typically used when you dilute the sample extract before analysis. Because you load the extract directly into vials without dilution, you should enter a dilution factor of 1 or keep it as the default setting. This informs the analyzer that no dilution has been carried out.

Good luck!

Thank you, Jorge! The 10:1 solution to soil ratio for the extraction had me thinking that might be considered a dilution ratio but your response makes more sense. It will only be a dilution facto if once I run a sample, I see that its values go outside the optimal measuring range of the device, then I will dilute it and apply a dilution factor there.

Best regards,

To determine the dilution factor of soil extracts, you need to know the volume of the original soil extract and the volume of the final diluted solution. The dilution factor is calculated by dividing the initial volume by the final volume.

Dilution Factor = Initial Volume / Final Volume

For example, if you have 10 mL of soil extract and you dilute it to a total volume of 50 mL, the dilution factor would be:

Dilution Factor = 10 mL / 50 mL = 0.2

This means that the soil extract has been diluted by a factor of 0.2 or 1:5.