A system for real-time spectrographic analysis for automatically identifying contaminants in water comprising: a spectrometer configured to process electromagnetic radiation emitted by a plasma created between a solid electrode and a liquid electrode; and a control node operatively connected to the spectrometer, the control node comprising a processor and a memory on which are stored machine-readable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to acquire spectroscopic data from the spectrometer and to analyze the spectroscopic data to determine concentration levels of contaminants in the water sample.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for in-situ accumulation of one or more substances from a liquid environment. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed including placing a cartridge with a sorbent in the liquid environment, driving a liquid volume through the sorbent, and repeating the act of driving as a function of time.

An analytical system and method periodically monitoring an injection water distribution pipeline for the presence and concentration of formaldehyde or other aldehyde-functional biocide includes pumps, one of which provides a predetermined volume of injection water drawn from the pipeline at a sampling point and the other a predetermined volume of a reagent, preferably a buffered solution of dimedone, from a reagent storage vessel which are mixed and then heated in a chamber to a predetermined temperature to promote formation of any reaction products. The heated reaction mixture is passed to a detection cell and exposed to light of predetermined wavelength which, in accordance with the Hantzsch reaction, molecules having an aldehyde functional group that reacted with dimedone produce a fluorescence-emitting reaction product, the intensity of which is measured and compared to data previously obtained from standard aldehyde-containing solutions.

Formation potential for disinfection by-products (DBPs) is determined in-situ using one or more automated sample extraction and measurement mechanisms. In one embodiment, such an in-situ mechanism is used to take periodic water samples and measure trihalomethane (THM) concentration in near real-time (i.e., less than two hours), using a measurement process based on modified Fujiwara chemistry. During the extraction and measurement process, water samples can be heated according to a specific temperature/time profile in order to artificially accelerate age of the water sample, so as to cause DBPs to form prematurely. A water monitoring network can monitor detected DBP levels and take automated response actions according to predefined computer policies or rules.

A method of removing and detecting the presence of substances from at least one of a body of water (20) and the air. The method includes placing into the body of water (20) or into the air an open-cell foam material (12, 14, 16), removing separate portions of the open-cell foam material (12, 14, 16) from the water (20) or air at different exposure times after the open-cell foam material (12, 14, 16) was placed into the water (20) or air, and determining the presence in the removed separate portions of one or more substances that were removed from the water (20) or air by the open-cell foam material (12, 14, 16).

An optical sensor may include multiple optical emitters configured to emit light into a fluid sample via an optical pathway. Light from the emitters can cause fluorescence from the sample and/or scatter off of the sample. Scattered and fluoresced light can be received by an optical detector in the sensor via the optical pathway, and used to determine at least one characteristic of the fluid sample. A second optical detector can provide reference measurements of the amount of light emitted to the sample. In one example, the optical detector can detect scattered and fluoresced light simultaneously. In another example, light is emitted and detected alternatingly. The sensor can be part of a system that includes one or more controllers configured to control the emitting and detecting of light to and from the fluid sample. The controller can use detected light to determine at least one characteristic of the fluid sample.

The utilization of a specific preconcentration protocol within an automated, on-line drinking water analysis method to amplify detection levels of individual halo acetic acids is provided. The proposed sequential injection analysis procedures allow for measuring such levels in drinking water samples from remote locations with post-column reaction of ion chromatography (PCR-IC). The novel remote preconcentration method injects such known concentrations via a syringe at regular intervals in a manner to provide a baseline measurement that accords a reliable comparison with the unknown amounts present within the drinking water samples at issue. In such a manner, the on-line, remote system provides the necessary reliability for a water utility or like entity on which to base any further needed water treatment activities without having to perform such measurements in a distinct lab setting.

An optical sensor can include first and second optical emitters configured to emit light into a fluid sample via an optical pathway. Light from the emitters can cause fluorescence from the sample and/or scatter off of the sample. Scattered and fluoresced light can be received by an optical detector in the sensor via the optical pathway, and used to determine at least one characteristic of the fluid sample. A second optical detector can provide reference measurements of the amount of light emitted to the sample. The second optical emitter and second optical detector can be included in an optical emitter assembly removably disposed in the optical pathway of the optical sensor such that the second optical emitter emits light into the optical pathway toward a fluid sample.

An open-cell foam structure that is impregnated with a disinfectant and used to remove pathogens from air, water, and surfaces, and kill the pathogens.

Embodiments of an apparatus are disclosed, the apparatus comprising: a substrate having a first end and an opposite, second end; a plurality of sensors proximate to the first end of the substrate, each sensor including: a first electrode; a second electrode at least partially surrounding the first electrode; and an active sensing element over the first electrode, a surface of the active sensing element being functionalized detect analytes in a sample derived from an environmental source; a plurality of contact pads proximate to the second end of the substrate, each contact pad being conductively coupled to the first electrode or the second electrode of a corresponding sensor in the plurality of sensors; and a cartridge surrounding the plurality of sensors and providing an enclosed space to contain the sample over the plurality of sensors.