Scientists from Russia have created simple and accurate sensors to detect chlorine in water

Equipment for laboratory research

Most of the equipment used in laboratories operate on the same principles as devices for private use. But their capabilities are wider, and their accuracy is higher.

Laboratory equipment covers areas inaccessible to non-professional devices. For example, it conducts bacteriological, sanitary studies of water samples.

For chemical testing

In laboratories, photometers are used in the chemical analysis of water. But in a more complex version than in non-professional research.

Example: flame photometer model FPA-2-01.

This equipment analyzes the flame with the test solution injected into it. The device allows you to accurately answer questions about the content of metal ions (alkaline and alkaline earth) in an aqueous solution.

Instruments for sanitary-bacteriological and microbiological test

Sanitary and bacteriological analysis of water is to detect and determine the concentration of harmful bacteria, microorganisms (for example, Escherichia coli). The study is carried out using standard microbiological equipment.

One of the few devices that partially facilitates the bacteriological analysis of water is the ULAB UT-5502 automatic counting of bacteria colonies. The device is made in China. Equipped with digital indication, liquid crystal display.

For radiological testing

The presence of radioactive elements, in particular radon gas, is possible in water. Dosimetric studies are carried out using standard radiometers.

To obtain data on the concentration of radon and thoron (radon-220) in water, devices such as Alfarad Plus RP are used. This is a digital radon and thoron radiometer. The device is able to monitor the volumetric activity of radioactive elements in water and other media.

Equipment for physical and chemical tests

Laboratory devices are able to set several physical and chemical parameters in the process of one measurement. Create MPS-1400 is a typical representative of this class of devices.

Create MPS-1400 is a laboratory instrument, but not a stationary one. It performs research while immersed in water.

At the same time, in addition to the main physical and chemical indications (pH, temperature, redox potential, and so on), it can measure:

1. the amount of dissolved oxygen;
2. the depth at which it is located;
3. pressure.

For spectral research

Spectral instruments are laboratory equipment capable of determining the composition of any substance.

Specialized spectrometers have been created to study water quality.

The Lovibond SpectroDirect spectrophotometer is designed to analyze water of various origins (drinking, technical, waste).

With the help of the device, domestic and foreign methods for determining water quality are implemented. 50 of them are pre-programmed and do not require instrument calibration. When carrying out measurements, reagents developed by Lovibond are used.

Exploring the Moon

Scientists constantly monitor the natural satellite of the Earth. At the moment, it is known that there are about 30 craters on the Moon with a diameter of more than 200 kilometers. For the first time, the possibility of the presence of water in them became known in 1976, during the study of data collected by the Soviet interplanetary station Luna-24. At that time, signs of the presence of water on the Moon were found in samples of lunar soil delivered to Earth. But today, more sophisticated technologies are available to scientists. Thanks to them, you can search for water on space objects remote from our planet without even visiting them.

Interplanetary station "Luna-24"

Since May 2010, at an altitude of 13 kilometers above the earth's surface, the SOFIA stratospheric observatory has been flying from time to time. At its core, this is a telescope that is installed on board a Boeing 747 aircraft. The aircraft gains sufficient altitude to obtain the same accurate data on space objects as telescopes in earth orbit. The equipment installed with the telescope is designed to monitor the birth and death of stars, the formation of star systems and the study of space objects inside the solar system.

Stratospheric observatory SOFIA - a joint project of the USA and Germany

Infrared spectroscopy technology helped detect water on the moon. This term refers to the transmission of infrared radiation through various substances. When radiation passes through them, the molecules and their individual fragments begin to oscillate. By examining these changes, scientists can recognize what the rays went through. In August 2018, the SOFIA stratospheric observatory scanned the moon's sunny side, and during the process, scientists found clear signs of water.

Instrument sets

A set of instruments is a mini-laboratory that is 100% responsive to the user's tasks.

The scope of application dictates the rational composition of the set:

• in everyday life, the food industry, when breeding fish, first of all, information about the acidity and mineralization of water is needed;
• when determining the health-improving possibilities of water, in addition to pH and TDS meters, the kit includes an ORP meter;
• electrolyzers give an instant qualitative assessment of an aqueous solution. They are added to the set to make it universal.

Devices purchased as a set are cheaper than the same devices purchased individually.

Moon exploration

The search for water on an earth satellite is necessary, because in the future it is planned to build a station there. It will be a kind of transit point for space travelers who will be on their way to distant planets. In 2024, astronauts will be sent to the moon, taking part in the Artemis mission to return Americans to the moon. And only then they want to build a huge base on the surface of the earth's satellite. Water will be needed to build it and keep the astronauts alive.Transportation from Earth would be expensive, and if a natural source of water was discovered on the Moon, space agencies could save a lot of money. And there will be more space on spacecraft for the delivery of scientific equipment.

Water will be needed by future colonizers of the moon

Perhaps in the future the Moon will be divided into territories belonging to certain countries. Recently, the NASA aerospace agency even developed rules for the exploration of the moon. According to the so-called "Artemis Agreement", countries will be able to extract resources only on their territories and will have to respect the borders. But no one knows yet how exactly the territories will be distributed. Probably every country will want to get a piece of the lunar surface with a lot of water. It remains to be hoped that this issue can be resolved peacefully.

How much water is on the moon?

Water molecules have been found on the Clavius ​​crater located at southern latitudes, as well as on the so-called Sea of ​​Clarity near the equator. True, there is not so much water there - by earthly standards, its amount is simply negligible. So, in the Clavius ​​crater, the concentration of water is from 100 to 400 micrograms per gram of soil. According to scientists, even the earth's Sahara Desert contains 100 times more water than this area of ​​our satellite.

Above the Sea of ​​​​Clarity, and below - the crater Clavius

But for the Moon, this is an amazing indicator, especially for its sunny side. On the shadow side of the satellite, water can indeed be stored. Scientists believe that it is definitely in a frozen state in "cold microtraps".This is the name given to small depressions on the surface of the moon, in which an extremely low temperature is constantly kept in the region of -160 degrees Celsius.

There is water on the moon, but scientists have only found a small amount so far

But on the sunny side, water cannot solidify due to the heat of the sun. At the moment, scientists do not know exactly how water molecules are stored on the bright side of the moon. But there is an assumption that they lurk in the voids between the grains of the lunar soil. According to astrophysicist Paul Gertz, the discovery proves that scientists still know little about the lunar surface. If there is liquid even on the sunny side of the satellite, then there can be even more of it on the shadowy part.

Self test at home

Devices allow a non-professional to independently obtain information about the quality of the water that he uses.

From the tap

To obtain general information about the presence of impurities in tap water, it is enough to purchase a TDS meter. For example, TDS-3 (it is described in this article). At impurity concentrations below 100 mg/l, water can be considered suitable for household needs, washing, and cooking.

bottled

They drink such water, considering it to be guaranteed clean.

In order for complete confidence in the purity, it is necessary to analyze bottled water, for this it is desirable to have 3 devices:

• TDS;
• pH;
• ORP.

The minimum concentration of impurities, normal acidity and negative ORP will make drinking bottled water pleasant and healthy.

From a spring, well, well

The presence of insoluble particles in the source water will be reported by the turbidity meter. His testimony will make the choice easier prefilter water.

More accurate water test from a well or well carried out using a saline meter and a pH meter. According to these devices, a decision is made to install a water softener. Testing helps to determine not only the quality of the water, but also the efficiency of the filters.

H2O from the pool

Chlorine is still sometimes used to disinfect pool water. In this case, a photometer is purchased with the function of determining chlorine, its compounds and cyanuric acid. A SCUBA II immersion photometer will do.

Instead of chlorine in private pools, active oxygen is often used. Its excessive concentration is harmful to health, therefore it is acquired instrument for measuring the amount of oxygen dissolved in water. For example, the Milwaukee Mw600 oximeter.

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Most requested sets

Rating leaders are kits that perform common tasks, have the necessary accuracy and reasonable price:

1. A set consisting of a pH meter and a salt meter is offered by Lizi (China). The set is intended for domestic use. Both devices are compact and self-contained. The price of the kit is about 3,500 rubles.
2. Watertest sells a set consisting of an electrolyser, pH, TDS, ORP meters. Sellers believe that the kit fully covers the needs for the study of water quality in everyday life and at public catering establishments. The price of the set is about 5,000 rubles.
3. PHCOM set from HM Digital (Korea). Allows you to measure the acidity, salinity, electrical conductivity, temperature of the test solution. The kit includes 2 devices: a pH meter and a salt meter. Manufacturers characterize them as professional-level devices. The price of the set is slightly more than 10,000 rubles.