Spectrometry for the People

In 1999, the world’s first submersible UVVis spectrometer was introduced by s::can liquid monitoring systems, Vienna, Austria. Since then, s::can (Austria) has become the world market leader in online spectrometry: World wide, more than 700 applications from drinking water to industrial waste water have been put into practise. Today, s::can (Austria) is able to offer a full range of online instruments (“smart sensors”), most of them optical, all insitu and at zero regular maintenance. COD, TOC, DOC, BOD, UV254, SAC, NO3, NO2, NH4, TSS, FTU/NTU, BTX, Phenols, optical O2, pH, Redox, Conductivity, Contaminant Alarm. All sensors can be operated from the same controller terminal, and all are integrated via a digital bus. The user interface is uniform for all sensors which makes communication, operation and calibration straightforward and simple. Thus, the fixed and operational costs are kept at an unmatched low level and the maintenance costs are negligible.

s::can optical instruments are now available at different levels of price and performance, thus systems can be designed compatible to almost any budget, from small wells up to full size treatment plants. A system consisting of one con::lyte terminal together with a single parameter measurement, i.e. for control of NO3 in the aeration tank, will be as cost efficient as a full system consisting of many sensors and terminals. s::can optical instruments are extremely robust, versatile and drift free for months. No chemicals, no membranes, no moving parts are in contact with the medium. For waste water applications a most efficient pressure air cleaning system keeps the sensor free of dirt, fat or even silicone grease. Internal dataloggers and most comprehensive process visualisation software are standard. Plug-and-play? Within just 2 minutes from unpacking, the first concentration readings are displayed. Online spectrometry confined to the > 10.000 budget? This is history. The instruments of s::can´s brand new Gcompact series are works-calibrated multiparameter probes, and cost-compatible even for smallest plants and budgets. References given by s::can include drinking water alarm systems, surface and ground water monitoring systems, waste water and sewer system monitoring and industrial waste waters.