SAC₂₅₄ Sensor For Reagent-Free, Sampling-Free Monitoring Of Organic Materials In Drinking Water Treatment

All surface water and ground water contains dissolved organic substances as the result of incomplete decomposition of vegetation, the metabolism of microorganisms and plankton, and man-made contaminants such as pesticides and herbicides.

Removing organic substances from drinking water is necessary because –
• they provide nutrients for microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses and encourage re-growth
• they are the precursors of disinfection by-products such as trihalogen methane (THM), shown to be carcinogenic in laboratory studies
• many, such as PAHs and pesticides, can be directly harmful to human health

Water treatment plants apply activated carbon filtration to remove undesirable organic materials from surface water and river filtrate and ground water exposed to industrial contaminants or agricultural organics. Typical organic contaminants include humic acid, fulvic acids, colorants, and synthetic halogenated hydrocarbons such as pesticides and solvents.