TraceDetect announces that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has verified the performance of its SafeGuard automated arsenic analyser
Researchers in the US EPA's environmental technology verification (ETV) programme have completed the performance evaluation and verification of the SafeGuard analyser for the analysis of arsenic in water.
The accuracy of the SafeGuard was verified by comparing its arsenic measurements to those from the standard laboratory-based reference method, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
When comparing the accuracy of the SafeGuard, the researchers found excellent correlation with 'no significant difference' to the reference analysis results.
In addition, the researchers noted that the SafeGuard, with its fully-automated sample handling, was easy to use.
Water quality analysts are accustomed to waiting two weeks for arsenic analyses from off-site laboratories.
In addition to the prolonged health risks to customers, violators risk stiff fines for each day their arsenic levels exceed the limit.
"It's critical that community water operators have timely information on drinking water arsenic levels," says Richard Brewer, CEO, TraceDetect.
"SafeGuard reduces those risks by monitoring arsenic levels in just 30 minutes.
"The ETV verification gives our customers confidence that SafeGuard is accurately reporting their arsenic levels at all times".
This accuracy allows water quality professionals to rely on SafeGuard as a quality assurance tool that can dramatically cut operating costs.
Customers are extremely pleased with the ETV programme results, says TraceDetect.
"The SafeGuard allows us to continually monitor the effectiveness of the arsenic removal media when it is exposed to various water chemistries", says Alicia Aragon of Sandia National Lab.
Aragon, testing over 30 different drinking water chemistries, is investigating the time it takes for arsenic to breakthrough the media.
Depending on the chemistry, breakthrough may occur at any time, from the first day to over a month.
Without the SafeGuard, each study would run for over a month with samples being drawn twice daily.
The samples are sent to the lab for ICP-MS analysis with turnaround on test results ranging from two weeks to two months.
"The SafeGuard literally saves me weeks of time.
"The SafeGuard allows me to analyse samples on a daily basis and terminate the experiment when it has reached breakthrough.
"We're able to substantially cut costs by reducing the amount of redundant sampling as well as the extra work and time devoted to testing each chemistry".
The ETV programme was created to accelerate the entrance of new environmental technologies into the marketplace.
The programme provides an independent evaluation for vendors with innovative, faster, cheaper technologies to penetrate a conservative, risk-avoiding environmental marketplace.
