Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for measuring an analyte of a sample, including: introducing a sample to a sample region of a measurement device; the measurement device comprising: a measurement electrode and a ground electrode contacting the sample; a low-slope reference electrode in a reference electrode assembly having an electrolyte solution, wherein the electrolyte solution is in contact with the low-slope reference electrode; wherein the electrolyte solution is electrically coupled to the sample via at least one junction; and measuring a first potential between the measurement electrode and the ground electrode; measuring a second potential between the low-slope reference electrode and the ground electrode; determining an analyte in the sample by comparing the first potential and the second potential. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for selecting a color for a chemistry or instrument based upon a parameter of a test, the method including: identifying a color corresponding to a parameter of a test for the parameter; selecting, if the color corresponding to the parameter has not previously been used for another parameter, the color for designating a chemistry or an instrument as corresponding to the parameter; selecting, if the color corresponding to the parameter has previously been used for another parameter, a different color other than the color for designating a chemistry or an instrument as corresponding to the parameter, wherein the selecting a color other than the color comprises identifying a color having a measure of change in visual perception of the different color against other previously selected colors a predetermined value from the other previously selected colors; and utilizing the selected colors for parameters across both chemistries (102, 104, 105) and instruments (101, 103) that are util

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for measuring peracetic acid concentration in an aqueous solution, including: combining, in a reactive solution, 4-(methylthio)aniline and at least one reactive species to produce a chromophore, wherein the at least one reactive species comprises a chromotropic acid disodium salt; placing the chromophore in an aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution comprises peracetic acid, wherein peracetic acid within the aqueous solution reacts with the chromophore; and measuring a concentration of peracetic acid within the aqueous solution, wherein the measuring comprises quantifying a colorimetric change of the aqueous solution caused by the peracetic acid reacting with the chromophore. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A kit and powder composition are described that can be used to determine a concentration of orthophosphate in a water system. The kit includes a first powder composition including molybdate; and a second powder composition including ascorbic acid. A powder composition is also described that includes molybdate, pyrosulfate, and less than wt. % ascorbic acid. A method for determining the concentration of orthophosphate in a water system using the kit includes adding the first and second powder compositions to a water sample collected from the water system, measuring an absorbance of the water sample after the first and second powder compositions have been added to the water sample, and determining the concentration of orthophosphate in the water system based on the measured absorbance.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for measuring suspended solids in wastewater, including: introducing an aqueous sample into a measurement system, comprising at least one length of tubing; pumping, using a pump, the aqueous sample through the at least one length of tubing; and measuring, using at least one optical sensor, a quantity of suspended solids in the aqueous sample wherein at least one optical sensor is coupled to the length of tubing in a position to measure the quantity of suspended solids while the aqueous sample is located in the at least one length of tubing.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for measuring an alkalinity of an aqueous sample, including: introducing an aqueous sample to a voltammetric pH electrode; holding the potential of a voltammetric pH electrode at a pH end point potential; applying a voltage step waveform comprising at least one potential pulse to the voltammetric pH electrode; titrating the aqueous sample; and measuring a current output resulting from the voltage step waveform, wherein the measuring comprises square wave amperometry. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for real-time management of analyte recovery within a system for measuring at least one parameter of a fluid within the system by monitoring signals from the system against a set of conditions, the method including: receiving, from the system, signals providing information regarding the system, wherein the system includes at least one reagent flowing into the system and recovers analytes within the fluid, wherein the analytes provide an indication of a value of the at least one parameter; identifying, by analyzing the signals, whether the analyte recovery of the system is meeting the set of conditions identifying a desired analyte recovery of the system; and modifying, based upon the analyte recovery not meeting the set of conditions, conditions of the system for recovery of the analyte, wherein the modifying includes adjusting at least one parameter of the system.

Abstract: A probe is described that is configured to measure a parameter of a liquid, such as water. The probe includes a probe head and a sensor probe that is detachably coupled to the probe head. The probe head and the sensor probe each include a radio frequency (RF) transceiver. The sensor probe measures the parameter of the liquid and transmits data relating to the measured parameter to the probe head by the RF transceivers. The probe can optionally include an inductive power coupling between the probe head and the sensor probe, and an interface between the probe head and sensor probe can be free of conductive connections.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage medium for determining an optimal amount of coagulant to be added to water for coagulation treatment. The method includes predicting a water quality index that would be achieved for a corresponding nominal coagulant dose by evaluating at least one coagulation-related incoming water parameter of water that has not been treated with coagulant, with a first mathematical model constructed from historical data including (i) previously administered coagulant dosages; and (ii) previously determined values of the water quality index of the water. The method also includes determining whether the predicted water quality index is within a target range. If the predicted quality index is not within the target range, then the coagulant dosage can be adjusted, and the adjusted dosage can be evaluated to predict the water quality index that would be achieved if the adjusted coagulant dosage is administered to the water.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for measuring arsenic in a sample, showing marked increase in sensitivity over previous methods including: preparing a compound of metal-plated zinc and zinc; introducing the compound to an acidified sample, wherein the sample contains an amount of arsenic, wherein the compound reduces the amount of arsenic to produce arsine gas; wherein sufficient hydrogen gas is produced to purge the sample solution; wherein the arsine gas is completely purged from the sample and captured on a test pad, wherein the pad comprises mercuric bromide, wherein the capturing produces a color change of the pad; and measuring the amount of arsenic in the sample by measuring the color change of the pad. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for measuring a characteristic of an aqueous sample, including: introducing the aqueous sample to a titration region and a reaction region of a measurement device, wherein the titration region comprises a pH electrode and a protonator electrode contacting a first portion of an aqueous sample, wherein the reaction region comprises a counter electrode contacting a second portion of the aqueous sample; placing an electrolyte reservoir in a state of electrical continuity with the titration region and the reaction region, wherein the electrolyte reservoir comprises a reference electrode, wherein the volume of the electrolyte reservoir comprises a large volume of an electrolyte; and determining a characteristic of the aqueous sample by measuring an electrochemical characteristic between the reference electrode and at least one of: the pH electrode and the counter electrode. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling nitrous oxide production in a wastewater treatment facility in which wastewater is treated with microbes in a biological reactor. Nitrous oxide production can be controlled by determining an amount of two or more nutrients in the biological reactor, calculating a value that represents a comparison of the values, comparing the calculated value to a threshold value, and optionally taking a corrective action to reduce nitrous oxide production based on the comparison. In one aspect, nitrous oxide production can be controlled by determining an amount of ammonium in the biological reactor, determining an amount of a nitrogen compound that can include nitrite, nitrate, and/or hydroxylamine, calculating a value that compares the amount of ammonium to the amount of the nitrogen compound, and taking a corrective action that changes a system parameter to reduce the nitrous oxide production if the calculated value surpasses a threshold limit.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for transferring information from at least one instrument to an application, including: establishing a central protocol structure, wherein the central protocol structure defines a format for information transmitted utilizing the central protocol structure; receiving, at the application and over a wireless communication channel information from the at least one instrument, wherein the information is formatted in view of the central protocol structure; and performing, within the application, an action with respect to the information within the application, wherein the performing comprises deciphering the information contained in view of the central protocol structure.

Abstract: Methods and kits are provided for analyzing a fluid with a flow cytometer to determine the concentration of a target component in the fluid. At least two bead groups are combined with the fluid, wherein each of the bead groups includes surface-functionalized beads that have a different size from the other bead groups. The target component can bind to the functional groups on the beads, and the beads with the targets can be counted with the flow cytometer. Based on the numbers of beads with targets in each group, a most probable number (MPN) of the target component can be determined.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for transferring information from at least one instrument to an application, including: establishing a central protocol structure, wherein the central protocol structure defines a format for information transmitted utilizing the central protocol structure; transmitting over a short-range wireless communication channel information from the at least one device to the application, wherein the information is formatted in a broadcast packet in view of the central protocol structure; receiving, at the application, information from the at least one device; and performing, within the application, an action with respect to the information within the application, wherein the performing comprises deciphering the information contained in view of the central protocol structure.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for determining a filter life, including: introducing an aqueous sample into a filtration device comprising at least one filter and one or more sensors located upstream of the at least one filter, wherein the one or more sensors are capable of measuring a component of the aqueous sample; measuring the component of the aqueous sample using the one or more sensors; identifying a load on the at least one filter based upon the measuring of the component of the aqueous sample and at least one filtration characteristic; and determining the filter life of the at least one filter based upon the identifying. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for transferring information from at least one instrument to an application, including: establishing a central protocol structure, wherein the central protocol structure defines a format for information transmitted utilizing the central protocol structure; transmitting over a short-range wireless communication channel information from the at least one device to the application, wherein the information is formatted in a broadcast packet in view of the central protocol structure; receiving, at the application, information from the at least one device; and performing, within the application, an action with respect to the information within the application, wherein the performing comprises deciphering the information contained in view of the central protocol structure.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method for transferring information utilizing a serial communication command structure over an unreliable or a non-continuous communication channel, including: establishing a serial command structure, wherein the establishing comprises defining a package structure having a predefined format, wherein the serial command structure comprises bounded data; and transmitting, over the unreliable or the non-continuous communication channel, data from a sending entity to a receiving entity utilizing the serial command structure and in the predefined format. Other aspects are described and claimed.