The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given approval for the rugged dissolved oxygen (RDO®) monitoring methods developed by Colorado‑based In-Situ® Inc.
In-Situ also announced the Aqua Troll® 400 multiparameter instrument for the environmental market, which includes an RDO sensor.
The company says that its RDO methods are the only optical or luminescence-based DO methods to pass the rigorous alternative test procedure approval process for measuring biochemical oxygen demand, carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand and DO under the US Clean Water Act.
Unlike other optical sensors, RDO Sensors stand up to harsh conditions, exhibit no sensor drift over extended periods, do not require hydration, and simplify deployment to a single step. In contrast to electrochemical sensors, the total cost of ownership is reduced due to long-lasting sensor design and the elimination of time-consuming maintenance steps.
The Aqua Troll 400 is described as ideally suited for long-term groundwater and surface water monitoring. Environmental professionals can expect accurate results, reduced maintenance, and simplified integration.
The Aqua Troll 400 features the patented, EPA-approved RDO Sensor, a rebuildable pH/oxygen reduction potential sensor and a robust conductivity sensor. The instrument uses open communication protocols for easy integration into existing infrastructure.
“Our RDO technology provides our customers and partners with higher quality data and more robust performance at a significantly lower cost than currently available optical DO sensors,” stated Jon Firooz, vice president of marketing of In-Situ Inc. “This superior optical DO technology will essentially render the membrane-based Clark-cell electrode obsolete and is ideal for environmental water monitoring.”
Many companies including Thermo Fisher Scientific and Rosemount Emerson have embraced the advantages of RDO technology for process, laboratory, and field applications through their OEM partnerships with In-Situ Inc.