Total Copper Analyzer for Rapid In Situ Characterization of Effluent Discharges
Abstract
The Total Copper Analyzer (TCA) for rapid in situ characterization of effluent discharges is the first instrument capable of continuous real-time measurement of total recoverable copper at environmentally relevant concentrations. Copper is a priority pollutant and regulatory programs require measurement of total recoverable copper. The TCA is a continuous-flow system that includes in-line acidification, digestion, and measurement of copper with a specialized jalpaite copper ion-selective electrode (Cu-ISE). The preprocessed sensor data is provided to an integrated computer system, for calculation and reporting of total recoverable copper with custom software. The continuous measurement of copper takes less than 5 minutes for completion. The use of the TCA should lead to the elimination of discharge exceedances and Notices of Violation (NOV), it should also allow for accurate calculations of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), and decreases in cost of effluent management, as the volume of treated effluent can be minimized. The demonstration of the TCA included laboratory characterization as well as long-term testing under industrial conditions. Laboratory conditions were used for evaluation of the dynamic range, precision, and interference by metals and humic acids. The response of the Cu-ISE is affected by the salinity (i.e., conductivity) of the water, and by the ambient temperature; however, once these parameters are controlled and kept relatively constant, the TCA responds linearly to copper concentration in the effluent.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 03, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA608388
Entities
People
- Ernie Arias
- Ignacio Rivera-duarte
- Michael Putnam
Organizations
- Naval Information Warfare Systems Command