AWWA WQTC58872

A first generation instrument applying Dynamic Particle Analysis (DPA) technology to particle characterization in the water sector has been introduced for counting, sizing, and imaging suspended particles. The technology incorporates a digital camera, illumination and magnification modules, innovative fluid handling system and image processing software to capture and analyze images of suspended particles in a flowing sample. The images are processed in real time to directly determine particle sizes and concentrations. The measurement technique is direct and does not rely upon intermediate calibrating materials for accuracy. It is therefore suited to analyze the broad range of particle materials found in drinking or wastewater. Inherent advantages of the technology include the ability to analyze samples with particles over a wide range of sizes (1.5 to over 1000 um) and concentrations (1 to over 1x106 particles/ml). In addition, the technology offers the significant benefit of capturing magnified images of particles for visual analysis. The paper briefly reviews the main attributes of the different instrument technologies currently employed in the water sector for suspended solids characterization and compares these with the capabilities of DPA. Application of the instrument to water samples taken at various points in the water treatment cycle have been evaluated. It has been determined that DPA technology offers many of the advantages of microscopic analysis (image capture, material insensitivity, broad size range, and broad concentration range) while largely preserving the attractive features (rapid speed of analysis, little or no sample preparation, no operator subjectivity or special skill requirements) of existing instrumentation. The analysis of samples from various points in a water treatment plant has highlighted the potential of the instrument to aid in many areas of water quality research and process optimization. Includes table, figures.