Water analysis is an essential component of environmental research and safeguarding. The four main pillars of water security are the accessibility of drinking water, the preservation of ecosystems, resilience against water-related climate hazards, and adequate water supplies for economic prosperity. These pillars can only be reinforced with precise, quantitative data on the health and sustainability of our water sources. This is doubtless a challenge, especially with conventional bench chemistry systems and batch-mixed analytical standards. The needs of modern environmental analysis require more proactive tools that are fully-compliant with recognised testing methods. Discrete analyzers are ideal for modern water quality testing, but only when coupled with SI traceable discrete water standards.
Understanding the Challenges of Water Testing
Roughly 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water. The vast majority is held in our oceans, while the next highest percentile covers the world’s frozen bodies of water; ice caps, glaciers, and permafrost. Perhaps surprisingly, glaciers and ice caps account for 68.7% of all freshwater on earth. Groundwater is next, with over 30% of freshwater. Conventional freshwater sources like lakes and rivers account for less than 0.3% of all freshwater on our planet. A fraction of that is potable, meaning potential hazards in drinking water sources must be detected expediently to ensure water security for global populations–and this is merely one of the challenges facing environmental chemists today.
How Can Discrete Analyzers Help?
Discrete analyzers are semi-automated systems that accelerate key wet chemistry processes. Using sample cells rather than a flow setup, discrete analyzers automatically portion sample aliquots with reagents, mix those solutions, and measure the analyte once the reaction is complete. The immediate benefit is absolute precision and reproducibility, but there are numerous peripheral advantages to using discrete analyzers over traditional wet chemistry tools.
So why should you choose pre-made discrete analyzer reagents and standards? Discrete analyzers will automatically perform system calibration, but analysts spend a lot of time preparing the reagents and standards needed to perform the calibration and sample analysis. Pre-made reagents and standards fulfill the need for enzymatic and colorimetric chemistries optimized to tight tolerances within result levels established by international reference methods without the analyst having to spend hours to prepare the instrument to start analyses.
For example: Alkalinity measurements via methyl orange colorimetry may require a demonstration of equivalence according to EPA 310.2. While most analysts prepare their reagents in-house, the time savings gained by using pre-made reagents can increase efficiency of the discrete analyzer and allow for quick sample analysis. There are numerous reasons you shouldn’t prepare standards in-house. Firstly, blending even single-element standards is time-consuming and resource-intensive; and the EPA set limits on over 90 contaminants in drinking water. Secondly, getting the documentation right can be extremely tricky–and establishing a complete traceability chain is essential in water quality analysis.
Inorganic Ventures eliminates the burden of getting calibration right. We are a trusted CRM partner with years of experience producing custom certified reference materials and reagents based on the cleanest starting materials. Our new line of discrete water reagents is launching in 2023. We hope to be a valuable link in the chain of accountability in modern water science, helping scientists to deliver the results that people around the world need to ensure water security for years to come. Contact us today to learn more.
References and further reading:
https://www.unwater.org/sites/default/files/app/uploads/2017/05/unwater_poster_Oct2013.pdf