2130 TURBIDITY* (2130 AL 1. Sources and Significance Clarity of water is important in producing products destined for human consumption and in manly manufacturing operations. Beverage producers, food processors, and potable water treat- reat plants drawing from a surface water source comumoaly rely ‘on fuid-panicle separation processes such as sedimentation and fiwation to increase clarity and ensure an scceptable product. The clarity of a natural body of water is an imporant determi rant of its candiion and productivity. Turbidity in water is caused by suspended and colloidal matter such as clay, silt, finely divided organic and inorganic matter, and plankton and other mieroscopie organisms. Tur- bidity is an expression ofthe optical property that causes light to be stattered and absorbed father than teansmmitted with no ‘change in direction or flux level through the sample. Corre- lation of turbidity with the weight or particle number concen- tation of suspended materi difficult because the size, shape, and refractive index of the particles affect the light-scattering Properties of the suspension. When present sn significant ‘concentrations, particles coasisting of light-absorbing matc- Fale such as activated carbon cause a negative interference. In low concentrations these particles tend 10 have a positive influence becauce they contribute to turbidity. The presence of dissolved, color-causing substances that absorb light may ‘cause & negative interference. Some commercial instruments may have the capability of either correcting fr a slight color imerference or optically Blanking out the color effect. 2. Selection of Method ‘Historically, the standart method for determination of wxbidity as been based on the Jackson candle turbidimeter, however, the Jowest turbidity value thut cam be measured directly on this device is 25 Jackson Turbidity Units (ITU). Because turbidities of water tweated by conventional Auid-particle separation processes usually fall within the range of Oto | unit, indizect secondary methods Were ‘developed 10 estimate wrbidity, Electronic nephelometers are the preferred instruments for turbidity measurement. ‘Most commercial turbidimeters designed for messuring low ‘utbdites give comparatively good indications of the intensity Saar Ste Men Ci, 20, rai 2, thfen ahem Kono Pace Te Ta as Introduction ‘of light scattered in one particular direction, predominantly at ‘ight angles to the incident light. Tusbidimeters with seatered- Tight detectors located at 98° 10 the incident beam ate called nephclometers. Nephelometers ute relatively unaffected by small differences ia design parameters and therefore are specified as the standard instrument for measurement f low turbidities. Instruments of different make and model may vary in respoase. “+ However, interinstrament variation may he effectively negli- ‘gible if good measurement techniques are used and the charac- \cristics ofthe particles in the measured suspensions are similar, ‘Poor measurement technique can have a greater effect om mea- ‘surement error than smnll differences in instrument design, Tur- Dbidimeters of nonstandard design, such as forward-scavering devices, may be more sensitive than nephelometers to the pres- fence of larger particles. While it may mot be appropriate 10. ‘compare their output with that of instruments of standard design, they still may be useful for process monitoring. ‘An additional cause of discrepancies in turbidity analysis is the use of suspensions of different types of particulate matter for ‘instrument calibration. Like water samples, prepared suspen- sions have different eptical properties depending on the particle size distributions, shapes, and refractive indices. standard reference suspension having reproducible light-scattering prop- feties is specified for nephelometer calibration. turbidity range make the nephelometrie method preferable to ‘visual methods. Report nephelometric measurement results as. nephelometric turbidity unite (NTU). . Storage of Sample Determine turbidity as soon as possible afier the sample is taken. Gently agitate all samples before examination to ensure a ‘epicsentative measurement. Sample preservation is not prac- al; begin analysis prompiy. Retiigeate or cool to 4°C, to minimize microbiological decomposition of solids, if storage is. required. For best resuilts, measure turbidity immediately without altering the original sample conditions such as temperature or pH Peer eget lvgmasaarerseeye see reseest cman mares =a ee Soest fetuny acess dr val erepined te reptinay pare