DropletSens™ Phosphate Analyser

Phosphate is monitored in the water network and watercourses to better understand and reduce the environmental impact caused by sewage treatment outflows, storm overflows and agricultural run-offs, which can result in excessive algal growth and fish deaths. This pollution data can be used to guide investment decisions, monitor effectiveness of remedial measures such as wetlands, and support nutrient-trading schemes to unlock housing developments.

Apart from the dissolved ‘reactive phosphorus’ or ‘ortho-phosphate’ which DropletSens™ measures colorimetrically, there is also suspended or bound phosphorus, with all phosphorus compounds together adding up to ‘Total Phosphorus’ or ‘Total-P’. At present there are no electrochemical or spectral approaches that can measure ortho-phosphate.

Phosphate discharge limits are in place in most countries to protect the receiving ecosystems. Increasing focus is also placed on Phosphorus recovery, as it is a limited resource and required for fertilizer production.

In the UK, phosphate is sometimes added during water treatment to act as a corrosion exhibitor in the pipe network to prevent leaching of heavy metals, including lead, into drinking water.