Water Quality Real-Time Analysis: Corrosion And Contaminant Detection Before It's Too Late

From water treatment plants to pharmaceutical manufacturing to a variety of industrial production operations, the detection of trace metals and other elemental species in water is a critical quality control requirement. Such analysis often occurs in off-line laboratory testing, a costly and labor-intensive process that fails to capture real-time water quality changes.

Process analytical technology (PAT) allows for continuous monitoring of unwanted substances in a water stream. PAT is a platform technology. This means it can be used for a variety of applications. The analytical approach performed via on-line PATs are most often based on established standard methods (e.g., ASTM, U.S. EPA, etc.) performed manually offline in a laboratory environment. PAT can detect iron oxides, chlorine, manganese, and more, which can protect sensitive equipment, improve product quality, and reduce facility operational costs. 

This article will explain the benefits of PAT, including how it can be used to detect corrosion and contamination before it becomes a problem, as well as key features to look for in a system.