Photometers claim dominance in market for on-site water analysis to test for a wide range of parameters including ammonium, phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, volatile fatty acids, and metals
Hach Lange says that it now supplies chemical oxygen demand (COD) reagents to an estimated 90% of UK water companies and Environment Agency laboratories.
These reagents are used with Hach Lange instrumentation - the Lasa range of photometers being predominantly used for on-site analysis to test for a wide range of other parameters including ammonium, phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, volatile fatty acids, and metals.
The results from the Lasa photometers can be used for reporting purposes under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, and as such accuracy and reliability are both said to be very high.
Sample tubes are supplied with all the necessary reagents so that testing is quick and easy.
Each test tube is bar coded so that the photometer is able to automatically determine which parameter is being tested, and thereby reduce the opportunity for human error.
On completion of the test, tubes are retained and collected by Hach Lange for recycling.
New tests are regularly added to the Lasa instruments, and these can be simply downloaded over a telephone line using a data handset that is supplied with each photometer.
The Lasa photometers are mains powered in high volume laboratory applications.
However, a battery-powered option enables operation in the field so that accurate results can be obtained quickly.
