In the field of water quality detection, laboratory testing has always been an important means. However, it also has some obvious drawbacks.
Laboratory testing involves cumbersome procedures. First, complex pretreatment of water samples is carried out, including steps such as digestion and extraction, and the entire process consumes a great deal of time and manpower. Moreover, for example, when detecting the total number of bacteria, plate counting is required, and for the detection of total coliforms, the multiple - tube fermentation method or the membrane filtration method is used. These methods all require long - term cultivation. The detection of the total number of bacteria requires at least 24 hours of cultivation, and the detection of total coliforms takes even longer, seriously affecting the detection efficiency and unable to meet the needs of emergency detection or real - time monitoring.
In addition, laboratory testing equipment is expensive. Equipment such as atomic absorption spectrometers and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers is very costly, and the maintenance and calibration costs are also high. During the testing process, a large number of chemical reagents are needed. The procurement, storage, and disposal of these reagents all require costs, resulting in high testing costs.
Furthermore, laboratory testing has high requirements for professionals. Testers need to have solid professional knowledge in chemistry, biology, etc., as well as proficient operation skills. Training such professionals requires a large investment of time and resources.
To solve the above - mentioned problems, the concept of rapid detection has emerged. Rapid detection, that is, quick - test, is a technology that can obtain test results in a short time. Its operation is very simple and can be carried out without professional personnel. For example, common water quality rapid - test kits can be used by ordinary people according to the instructions. The testing time is greatly shortened, and results can be obtained within a few minutes to dozens of minutes, which can meet the needs of emergency detection and real - time monitoring. Moreover, the cost of rapid detection is relatively low, and the equipment and reagents are affordable, making it more suitable for use in resource - limited situations. In places where high - precision results are not required, it can make up for the deficiencies of laboratory testing.
The Portable Water Quality Monitor is a typical representative device of rapid - test technology.
The Portable Water Quality Monitor realizes the rapid determination of multiple water quality indicators based on different detection principles. Commonly used methods include the electrochemical method. Through an electrochemical reaction between the electrode and the target substance in the water sample, an electrical signal related to the substance concentration is generated, and the instrument converts it into an intuitive reading. For example, parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH value, and electrical conductivity in water can be detected. There is also the spectrophotometric method. The water sample is irradiated with light of a specific wavelength, and the substance to be tested in the water absorbs the light. According to the quantitative relationship between the absorbance and the substance concentration, the substance content is determined. For example, indicators such as ammonia nitrogen and nitrite can be detected.
This detector can detect a wide variety of items, including key parameters in daily water quality monitoring. Of course, in addition to the dissolved oxygen, pH value, and electrical conductivity mentioned above, it can also detect turbidity, which reflects the content of suspended particles in the water by measuring the degree of light scattering by the water sample. In the detection of pollutants, it can quickly determine the content of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, as well as common organic pollutants such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), providing a multi - dimensional assessment of the health status of water quality.
It has excellent portability, with a small size and light weight, making it convenient to carry to various sites. Its operation is simple and easy to understand. Even personnel without a deep professional background can use it skillfully after simple training. Moreover, the detection speed is extremely fast, and one or more indicators can be detected within a few minutes, improving the detection efficiency and being able to provide timely data support for decision - making. In the face of sudden water pollution incidents, it can quickly lock the scope and degree of pollution and help take effective countermeasures.
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