LMS Volume 33 Issue 2 | Page 32

32  LMS  Issue 2 | 2014 Water Analysis & Purification Hach’s DR 900 Handheld Colorimeter H ach Company has developed the next great multiparameter handheld instrument for testing water in the field, the DR 900 Handheld Colorimeter. The DR 900 allows for quick and easy access to frequently used testing methods and is f ield ready in every way. It is an improvement on the very popular and successful DR 800 series colourimeters. By improving the user interface and menu selections, it is easy for users to access most standard water testing methods in less than four clicks. Time saving is the main driver behind the DR 900. This colourimeter provides the ability to test 90 of the most commonly used water test In a While, Crocodile T he Crocodile miniWorkstation is a compact, fully automated, high performance ELISA workstation for low to medium throughput. This device provides the same functionality as five individual instruments. It functions as a dispenser, shaker, incubator, washer and reader, and thus, reduces assay times by eliminating the need to move plates between the individual instruments. This workstation is only 26.5cm wide and requires no more than 40cm of bench space. The workstation is also designed for unattended operation. Simply insert the sample microplate, choose the assay protocol and leave the work to Crocodile. All functional modules are housed in one compact box. Simply connect the unit with the power outlet and desktop computer and one is all set for analysis. The tubing for wash and waste liquids is preinstalled, ready to be introduced into the wash and waste bottles. Flushing of the system and the routine replacement of the tubing are made easy by the intuitive design of Crocodile. It will also adapt to any ELISA format and reagent bottles of any shape and size are accommodated. The user friendly software easily adapts to any ELISA protocol. The five different functions can be aligned in any sequence, one or several times each (for example one to four dispensing steps or multiple washing steps). Setting of each step is flexible and intuitive. ⚛ Aqualytic Laboratory & Environmental Contact: Christian Loots Tel: 012-664 4333 Email: [email protected] methods, while putting your favorite methods at your finger tips. The DR 900 is made for use in harsh and challenging field environments. It is ruggedly constructed, waterproof, dustproof, drop tested and shock resistant, this colourimeter ensures reliability in all conditions. The instrument has a backlit display option for use in lowlight areas with a push of a button. It can store data from 500 tests and comes with a USB port for easy data transfer. The DR 900 Colorimeter features: • Stor a ge of t he most sta nd a rd methods for quick access. • An intuitive user interface that allows easier testing. • A memory that stores data from up to 500 tests. ⚛ Hach South Africa Contact: Robert Bollea Tel: 011-708-3705 Email: [email protected] SurPASSing Membrane Development L imited resources for fresh water require the purification of municipal wastewater or the desalination of seawater to fulfill the increasing demands for drinking water in urban areas and waterless regions. Polymer membranes have introduced a highly economic way for water treatment. While portable modules for ultrafiltration of bacteria and viruses from surface water are made of ceramic filters, the giant water treatment plants require the light weight and enormous surface area of thin-film composite polymer membranes for nanofiltration and reverse osmosis. Other applications of membranes cover purification and concentration processes in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Fouling of membrane surfaces is a natural phenomenon that affects the efficiency and lifetime of membranes. The knowledge of the effect of foulants is essential to improve the fouling resistance of such membranes. The zeta potential of membrane surfaces that is determined with the new SurPASS electrokinetic analyser helps to understand the interaction of liquid components with the membrane surface. The zeta potential is very sensitive to changes in the membrane surface chemistr y, which a lso makes the SurPASS a valuable tool in membrane development. The SurPASS helps material scientists to improve surface characteristics and to design new specialised material properties. ⚛ Anton Paar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd Contact: Andre van Zyl Tel: 011-021-5165/6/7 Email: [email protected]