Britvic Soft Drinks has selected Analytical Technology's A15/81 monitor to accurately test hydrogen sulphide (H2S) levels in finished bottled products.
The A15/81 can monitor soluble H2S in water on a real-time basis and enables Britvic to accurately monitor its water-bottling facility for hydrogen sulphide in compliance with strict legislation.
Bottled water in the UK is controlled by The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations (England) 2007.
The regulation specifies that bottled water should not contain any micro-organism, parasite, property, element or substance at a concentration or value that constitutes a potential danger to human health.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates the taste and odour threshold for H2S in water to be as low as 0.05mg/litre.
Although the WHO has not set a health-based guideline value of H2S in drinking water, it stipulates that H2S should not be detectable in drinking water by either taste or odour.
Analytical Technology's A15/81 monitor measures soluble H2S in water on a real-time basis, overcoming the problems caused by conventional dissolved sulphide monitoring systems, providing an improved method for measuring sulphides in solution.
Rather than using a traditional ion-selective electrodes (ISE) sensor, the A15/81 employs a polarographic H2S gas sensor that is isolated from the sample, enabling continuous operation on many types of water and wastewater streams with minimal maintenance and adjustment.
For Britvic, a key advantage of the A15/81 monitor is that the sensor does not come into contact with the sample.
Only the gas stream containing the stripped H2S reaches the sensor.
As a consequence, the system continues to function regardless of the quality of the sample.
The only requirement is that large particulates be strained from the sample.
Britvic required a dissolved sulphide monitor that was easy to operate and maintain.
The only regular maintenance requirement is to change the acid reagent once every six weeks and to change the H2S on an 18-24 month basis.
Running costs are low as the acid usage for pH adjustment in the chemistry module of the A15/81 is inexpensive.
The tubing in the sample system has long-life capability.
The monitors were installed at Britvic's Huddersfield factory; three on each borehole line fitted in a central location.
Following installation, Analytical Technology provided full operational training to Britvic on a one-to-one basis.
Since implementing the monitors, Britvic has been able to ensure its bottled products are accurately and continuously monitored for hydrogen sulphide, ensuring costs and maintenance are kept to a minimum and reliable results are generated in real time.
