SC7100 UV-Vis Spectrum Analyzer

GI Instruments Québec Inc.

www.giiq.ca
Introduction
T he standard parameters for assessment of organic pollution (COD, BOD5, TOC, etc.) are sum parameters
whose measurement requires both elaborate chemical or biological analytical procedures
carried out in laboratories and sampling carried out on site. As a result, these parameters are known to have
various drawbacks: reproducibility, comparability, measurement ranges, cross-sensitivities, use of chemicals,
etc. For example, different oxidizing agents to establish Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) are in use. These
different oxidants, such as permanganate and dichromate, produce different results for the same sample.
Furthermore, sampling and sample storage is a major source of error for this type of analysis. This means
that although widely accepted, they can not be considered to be “true” sum parameters. For this reason,
increased interest has been shown in the past few years – by private organizations as well as authorities,
agencies and regulators – in substitute measurement methods, if they provide the great advantage of
continuous measurement.
On-line spectrometry can provide, without sample SC7100 A b s o r b a n c e
pretreatment, a surrogate for any of these organic sum 700
parameters. It can even provide information on total and 600
dissolved organics (e.g. TOC & DOC in one measurement)
500
using a single measurement principle. Even in waters with
very high solids concentrations (up to several g/l), the 400
spectral estimation of the dissolved fraction of the 300
organics is realistic with the help of spectral turbidity 200
compensation algorithms. The measurement results
100
obtained using UV-Vis spectrometry have been found to
0
be even more precise than laboratory or cabinet analyzer 200 300 400 500 600
data for these parameters.
In terms of its methodical approach, process spectrometry features the advantage of directly measuring the
organics fraction of interest, whereas, for example, COD and BOD are normally indirectly measured by
consumed oxygen. Comparison of the standard deviations of, for example, DOC lab measurements with
spectral measurement values will result in substantially less dispersion than with classical wet chemical
analyses; the uncertainties in DOC measurements (especially in the lower concentration region) are well
known. Thanks to lower dispersion, when determined via UV/VIS spectrometry, a lower detection limit can
be achieved.
For these reasons, SAC254 (Spectral Absorbance at 254
nm) has long been an acknowledged parameter for the
description of organic carbon compounds in drinking
water analysis (e.g. according to DIN38404). The choice of
this wavelength, however, was above all made for
historical rather than analytical reasons. In many cases,
organic matter generates the strongest signal at other
wavelengths. Figure at left, shows an example of this, with
the absorbance spectra in the influent of a paper mill
WWTP. The peak at the wavelengths around 280 nm
reflects degradable organic matter. Due to biological degradation, it decreases successively from the influent
(blue) over the intermediate treatment (green) to the effluent of the after-treatment (red). In this instance,
measurement of the SAC 254 alone is inadequate for determining the concentration of organic compounds
since, at 254 nm, absorbance correlates almost exclusively with solid matter (turbidity), but there is almost
no selective relationship with organic sum parameters. Furthermore, dissolved carbon compounds can only
be measured safely after spectral compensation of turbidity. The traditional way of compensation by
measuring only one additional wavelength in the visible range is usually not suitable for this purpose because
of the changing character of particles and color.
SC7100 Spectra-Analy
zer
SC7100 spectrometer probes use standardized spectral algorithms taking in to account the complete absorption
spectrum of the water (200 - 750 nm in case of UV/Vis probe) for determination of organic sum parameters such as COD,
TOC, BOB and DOC. Furthermore, SC7100's spectral compensation for light absorbing particles and turbidity provides a
unique method that allows the monitoring of dissolved organic substances without the need for sample pre-treatment.
The validated spectral calibrations, that use multiple wavelengths for monitoring of each parameter, allow much more
accurate and robust measurements than with where single wavelength measurement.
Using field special calibrations, it is even possible to distinguish various fractions of organic carbon groups using specific
features of the absorption spectrum. In particular relations between particular parts of the spectrum and (bio) degradability
or organic substances have been established. Such relations allow optimization of the treatment processes used to reduce
organic contaminations, for example biological processes in waste water treatment plants. In this latter case, optimization is
made possible by the on-line monitoring of the amount of organic substances that can be degraded by micro-organisms
(BOD). Using this knowledge, the amount of waste that is fed into the treatment plant can be managed in such a way that
the activated sludge is able to most efficiently reduce the organics or alternatively nutrient dosing can be controlled which
ensures an optimal concentration at all times (no under or over-dosing).

Measuring Scale & Optic Path Length

WWTP WWTP WWTP
Application River water Drink water
Influent/Sewer Aeration effluent
Path Length 2mm 5mm 1mm 5mm 5mm 35mm

NO3-N mg/l 0.5-10 0.1-20 0.2-25 0.3-70 0.1-10

COD mg/l 25-3750 10-1500 2-500

BOD mg/l 20-1250 10-500 2-300

TOC mg/l 1-150 0.1-20

DOC mg/l 0.5-75 0.1-10

SAC25 Abs/m 5-750 2-300 2-300 2-300 0.1-40

TSS mg/l 25-2500 10-1000 100-8000 2-500

Turbidity NTU/FNU 5-1400 0.5-150
O3 mg/l 0.1~10 0.1~10
H2S mg/l 0~25 0~50
* Based on the collected water matrices of the described "global calibration".
** Precision equals corresponding lower limit of monitoring range
(e.g.: application aeration, parameter NO3-N precision +/- 0.1 mg/l)
In Situ Spectra Analyzer Application
 Online multi-parameter spectrometry Drinking water
 Quality control
 Smallest mechanical scale
 Alarm system
 Xenon flash light, 50 years life
Waste water
 Optical path length: 2, 5, 10, 20, and 35 mm  Effluent monitoring
 Stainless steel measuring head, saltwater-proof  Analysis of trends
 Early detection of disposal (fingerprint)
 Pre-calibration and advance calibration
Process water
 Fully integrated air pressure cleaning
 Process monitoring in industrial facilities
 No chemical need, No Secondary pollution  Control of water treatment

SPECIFICATIONS
Technical
System UV-Vis Spectrum (190~720nm)
Measuring principle Spectral analysis
Optical path length 2/5/20/35 mm
Light source Xenon flash light
Accuracy ±2% of reading
Resolution ±0.5% of scale
Temperature range -10°C up to +50°C

Interface
RS232, RS485, 9600; div. protocols, e.g. Modbus
Modbus for the connection with other sensors
USB
Ethernet, 10 MB/s, div. protocols, e.g. TCP/IP
GSM, GPRS

Parameter
SAC254 COD TOC/DOC
NO3-N SS Phenol
O3 H2S Color Hazen-t/f
Further parameters by calibration