Algae and toxicity monitoring instruments from Technical & Scientific Equipment
The bbe range of algae and toxicity monitoring instruments has developed a sensitive method for detection of hazardous compounds in water supply systems, rivers, treatment plants and sewers.
Continuous biological monitoring with the algae toximeter enables recognition and early warning in case of toxic discharges.
The algae toximeter is particularly sensitive to herbicides, and can detect some compounds at very low concentrations – as little as ppb.
The algae toximeter continually determines toxic substances in surface waters. The toxic substances interact with the photosynthetic apparatus of green algae, which results in a loss of activity. The activity is related to chlorophyll fluorescence, a natural phenomenon of photosynthesis.
The test organisms – the algae – are cultivated in an integrated fermenter. A water sample is mixed with the standardised algae.
If the algae are affected, e.g. with a negative impact of a herbicide that reduces activity of the algae, an alarm is induced. The major advantage of the fluorometric assay is the high sensitivity and immediate response of fluorescence measurement.
The obvious advantage of a biological monitoring system is that the hazardous compounds do not have to be known to be detected.
Once the algae toximeter has detected the hazardous compound, an alarm is sent, and the applicable supply can be shut off pending further investigation.
The bbe range of algae and toxicity monitoring instruments are supported in Australia by Technical & Scientific Equipment .
26-Feb-2008