Camlab has launched an instrument from Aqua Diagnostic, which is capable of accurate, sensitive, real-time analysis of chemical oxygen demand (COD).
According to the company, the green technology does not require any hazardous chemicals.
It produces fast results and eliminates the time-consuming digestion step.
The core of the technology is the Pecod sensor, which has a number of practical advantages compared with the traditional methods of COD analysis.
Camlab claims that Pecod's ability to analyse samples containing chloride is significantly better than the dichromate method and does not require the addition of toxic reagents such as mercury and silver salts.
The increased sensitivity of the method enables the measurement of clean-water samples with low ppm levels of COD.
Typical analysis times of less than 10 minutes are usually achieved.
The sensor consists of a UV-activated titanium-dioxide film coupled to an external circuit.
The high oxidising power of the sensor gives the analyser an advantage compared with the traditional dichromate method, according to the company.
The Pecod analyser oxidises all organics and counts the electrons that are liberated to provide a direct measure of equivalent COD.
It is available as a true online monitor or can be supplied as a benchtop laboratory instrument, which has an optional battery pack for field use.
Pecod technology allows the user to rapidly measure COD online in real time and enables a reading to be generated every 15 minutes to give data on a waste or discharge stream.
The online real-time capability means that processes can be adjusted to reduce energy use or to make treatment more cost effective.
