Up to a few years ago SAK254 (spectral absorption coefficient at 254nm) was still being used in the field of optical measurements as the parameter for the carbon load. In contrast to this, today the individual wavelength is no longer considered but the complete absorption spectrum, from the UV-range up to the point of visible light. The spectra yielded as a result of this are analysed using powerful controllers (embedded PCs using Windows XP Embedded or Linux) and the individual concentrations such as COD, nitrate etc. are calculated from these. Up to even a few years ago such time-consuming calculations would not have been possible.
Measurement Process:
A xenon flash lamp penetrates the medium, whereby the light is split up into its spectral colours by a prism and picked up using a diode array. The complicated analysis then takes place on the PC that is pertinent to the industry.
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These measuring devices are also available, just like the ion-selective devices, in the form of probes and do without the treatment of the samples.
This method of measurement is particularly important for the work of our research group as the parameters recorded correspond to those that are necessary for the simulation of a wastewater treatment plant under Matlab or Simba conditions.
