EPA Compliant Benchtop Turbidity Meter - HI88703-02

The HI88703 Precision Turbidity Benchtop Meter is specially designed for water quality measurements, providing reliable and accurate readings, especially in the low turbidity range. The instrument is based on a state-of-the-art optical system which guarantees accurate results, assures long term stability, and minimizes stray light and color interferences. Periodic calibration with the supplied standards compensates for any variations in intensity of the tungsten lamp. The 25 mm round cuvettes composed of special optical glass guarantee the repeatability of turbidity measurements.

Features at-a-glance:

Two Measurement Modes - The HI88703 features two options for turbidity measurement: ratio and non-ratio mode. Turbidity measurements can be made in the 0.00 to 4000 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) when using the ratio mode and in the 0.00 to 40.0 NTU range when non-ratio mode is used.

Multiple Turbidity Units of Measure - Turbidity can be read as Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), European Brewing Convention units (EBC), or Nephelos units.

EPA Compliant - The HI88703 meets and exceeds the requirements of EPA and Standard Methods for turbidity measurements. When the meter is in EPA mode all turbidity readings are rounded accordingly to meet reporting requirements.

Calibration - The HI88703 has a powerful calibration function that compensates for lamp aging or changing. The calibration can be done using the supplied calibration solutions or user-prepared standards. A two, three, four, or five-point turbidity calibration can be performed by using the supplied (<0.10, 15.0, 100, 750, and 2000 NTU) standards. Calibration points can be modified if user-prepared standards are used.

AMCO AEPA-1 Primary Turbidity Standard - The AMCO AEPA-1 supplied standards are recognized as a primary standard by the USEPA. These non-toxic standards are made of styrene divinylbenzene polymer spheres that are uniform in size and density. The standards are reusable and stable with a long shelf life.

GLP Data - The HI88703 features complete GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) functions that allow traceability of the calibration conditions. Data includes calibration points, date, and time.

Data Logging - Up to 200 measurements can be stored in the internal memory and recalled at any time.

Data Transfer - For further storage or analysis options, logged data can be downloaded to a Windows compatible PC using the USB port and the HI92000 software.

Tutorial Mode - The unique tutorial mode provides additional information to help the user during measurements. When enabled, the instrument displays explanations and a confirmation button when a preparation or other operation has to be performed.

Contextual Help - Contextual help is always available through a dedicated HELP button. Clear tutorial messages and directions are available on-screen to quickly and easily guide users through setup and calibration.The help information displayed is relative to the setting/option being viewed.

Backlit Graphic LCD Display - A graphic LCD display provides an easy to understand, user-friendly interface. All messages are in plain text making them easy to read.

Turbidity is one of the most important parameters used to determine the quality of drinking water. Once considered as a mostly aesthetic characteristic of drinking water, significant evidence exists that controlling turbidity is a competent safeguard against pathogens. In natural water, turbidity measurements are taken to gauge general water quality and its compatibility in applications involving aquatic organisms. The monitoring and treatment or wastewater was once solely based on the control of turbidity. Currently, the measurement of turbidity at the end of the wastewater treatment process is necessary to verify that the values are within regulatory standards.

Turbidity of water is an optical property that causes light to be scattered and absorbed, rather than transmitted. The scattering of light that passes through a liquid is primarily caused by the suspended solids present. The higher the turbidity, the greater the amount of scattered light. Even a very pure liquid will scatter light to a certain degree, as no solution will have zero turbidity.

Drinking water treatment plants that obtain water from surface water are required by the EPA to monitor and report the turbidity. Surface water sources include lakes and rivers. The requirements of the nephelometer and reporting measurements according to EPA Method 180.1 are:

• The applicable range is 0-40 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU)
• Light source: Tungsten lamp operated at a color temperature between 2200-3000°K.
• Distance traversed by incident light and scattered light within the sample tube: Total not to exceed 10 cm.
• Detector: Centered at 90° to the incident light path and not to exceed ±30° from 90°. The detector, and filter system if used, shall have a spectral peak response between 400 nm and 600 nm
• The sensitivity of the instrument should permit detection of a turbidity difference of 0.02 NTU or less in waters having turbidities less than 1 unit.
• Report results as follows:

The HI88703 meets and exceeds the meter criteria specied by the EPA Method 180.1 and Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater 2130 B.

Principal of Operation

The light beam that passes through the sample is scattered in all directions. The intensity and pattern of the scattered light is affected by many variables, such as wavelength of the incident light, particle size and shape, refractive index, and color. The optical system of the HI88703 includes a tungsten filament lamp, a scattered light detector (90°) and a transmitted light detector (180°).

In the ratio turbidimeter range, the microprocessor of the instrument calculates the NTU value from the signals that reach the two detectors by using an effective algorithm that corrects and compensates for interferences of color. The optical system and measuring technique also compensate for fluctuations in lamp intensity, minimizing the need for frequent calibration.

In the non-ratio turbidimeter range, the NTU value is calculated from the signal on the scattered light detector (90°). This method offers a high linearity on the low range but is more sensitive to lamp intensity fluctuations. The lower detection limit of a turbidimeter is determined by stray light that is detected by the sensors but not caused by light scattering from suspended particles. The optical system of the HI88703 is designed to have very low stray light, providing highly accurate results for low turbidity samples.