An apparatus for determining total hardness in a fluid stream utilizing an ion exchange column in a monovalent cationic form having an inlet and an outlet, where one or more monovalent ion selective electrodes are positioned either at an inlet, outlet, or at both locations simultaneously. The monovalent cation selective electrodes are in electrical communication with one another, and in fluid communication with one or more valves incorporated within a fluid path in order to introduce feed water/softened water to the monovalent cation selective electrodes. Additionally, one blending valve may be incorporated in the ion exchange column to allow a fraction of the feed (hard) water to mix with a fraction of the softened water. In this manner, the blending valve may be utilized to adjust the hardness of the water at the output.

Methods and systems are disclosed for optimization of coagulation and/or flocculation in a water treatment process. According to exemplary embodiments, samples are taken from an aqueous liquid and the samples are monitored with an imaging device to capture visual data of particles dispersed or suspended in the liquid. The particles are classified into particle types based on the visual data and a particle size distribution indication is computed for each classified particle type. The particle size distribution indication is then compared to a predetermined particle size distribution value, and in response to a difference detected, dosage of at least one coagulation and/or flocculation agent in the water treatment process can be adjusted.

A system that includes a sensor for measuring a resonant impedance spectral response of an inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) resonator and correlating the measured response of one or more spectral parameters to one or more characteristics of the fluid. Such characteristics may be the age or health of the fluid and/or the identification of and concentration of components in the fluid.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring process water within a food processing system are provided. One example water control system for a food processing system generally includes a temperature adjustment element having an inlet and an outlet and a sensor coupled to the outlet of the temperature adjust element. The temperature adjustment element is configured to: receive, at the inlet, a portion of process water from a process water supply in a stage of the food processing system, the process water in the process water supply and the received portion of the process water having a first temperature; and cause the portion of the process water at the outlet to have a second temperature, different from the first temperature. The sensor is configured to measure at least one property of the portion of the process water received from the outlet of the temperature adjustment element.

The determination of hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity of contaminated water can be achieved by developing an external calibration model. The model can be prepared using standard solutions where scavenging capacities are determined, and then the solutions are treated with addition of an oxidant and a dye, followed by UV treatment to form hydroxyl radicals that are scavenged by species in the standard solution. The residual dye content can then be measured using absorbance. The absorbance and the scavenging capacity data for the standard solutions are used to build the model, which can then be implemented to determine scavenging capacity of contaminated water. Water samples can be subjected to the same treatment as the standard solutions, the absorbance of the water sample is then obtained, and then the model is used to determine the corresponding scavenging capacity. Determining scavenger capacity of contaminated water can aid in advanced oxidation processing (AOP).

A system for analyzing a chemosensor that includes a light source directed at a chemosensor, and a spectrometer arranged to detect a signal from the light source after passing through the chemosensor. The spectrometer includes signal conditioning electronics and spectral decomposition software which allows the spectrometer to perform a spectral analysis in order to identify, in real time, one or more heavy metals in a continuous flow of water interacting with one or more dyes on the chemosensor.

A system and method are directed to detecting the presence of heavy metals in a flowing fluid, such as a drinking water supply. The system includes a first chamber for receiving a filtered portion of the fluid and a second chamber for receiving an unfiltered portion of the fluid. A test device measures electrical properties of the filtered fluid in the first chamber and the unfiltered fluid in the second chamber, such as an electric potential difference, and a controller can use the measured electrical properties to detect the presence or quantity of one or more heavy metals within the fluid, such as lead, cadmium, zinc, nickel, and/or copper.

A method for determining a chemical intake capacity of a process medium includes steps of providing a measuring point and an analytical measuring device, closing an outlet valve to the drain so that no process medium is discharged and closing the inlet valve so that no additional process medium is fed from the first inlet. The method includes circulating the analyte and process medium through the pump so the mixture flows into the analytical measuring device at a predetermined flow velocity. Further, the method includes detecting a measured value using the analytical measuring device until the measured value exceeds a limit value. The predetermined volumes are summed to form a total volume of the analyte, and a chemical intake capacity of the predetermined medium is determined based on the total volume of the analyte fed in.

Provided are low flow groundwater fluid sampling systems and related methods of collecting fluid samples, including a low flow pump, flow cell, waste container and a communication device in communication with those components. In this manner, the low flow pump may be controlled to ensure a desired constant flow-rate is achieved, and a remote operator may monitor the status of fluid being pumped to the flow cell with the communication device, such as with a portable electronic device, including a smart phone. The system may alert the operator that fluid is ready to be collected for sampling, including at an off-site laboratory. Particularly useful applications are for monitoring groundwater quality and contamination.

An illustrative embodiment of a flow cell may include a main chamber, base plate, and cover. The main chamber may be formed with an interior portion having a first angled surface, a first ramp, a second ramp, and a second angled surface. A secondary drain may be positioned at a point of relatively low elevation between the bottom portions of the first and second ramps. The main chamber may include first, second, and third inlet passages that may be in fluid communication with an inlet header formed in the base plate. A PLC and/or PAC may be in communication with various components of the flow cell and/or external components for monitoring, sensing, and/or providing other functionality.