Schematic of a standard configuration Proteus BOD The addition of fDOM was expected to provide users with information on the total organic load as it measures fluorescence of humic and fulvic materials.įigure 1.
#Proteus for tables trial
For this trial electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and fDOM (fluorescent coloured organic matter) sensors were also fitted to the unit. The sensor platform can also house a suite of additional sensors (optical and electrochemical). The TLF measurement is compensated for temperature and turbidity interference to provide a robust indication of total coliforms or E. The Proteus (Table 1 & 2 and Figure 1) is a multi-parameter optical sensing platform consisting of (in this case): (1) tryptophan like fluorescence sensor (TLF), (2) a turbidity sensor and (3) a temperature sensor that can provide users with a real-time indication of total coliforms or E. Such data was considered invaluable for future design of any larger catchment investigations where the purchase of a number of units to provide highly resolved (in time and space) indications of bacteria loading and inform bathing water alerts and feed into shell fish …. The key goal of the study was to compare the real-time measurement provided by the Proteus with traditional laboratory measurements of presumptive coliform and E. RS Hydro were commissioned by a UK government agency to undertake a trial of the Proteus for coliform measurement. These findings highlight that the Proteus can provide repeatable, accurate, reliable and high frequency measurements of microbial contamination and is highly suitable for environmental monitoring and bathing water quality monitoring. The sensor successfully classified 90% of samples into the ‘correct’ bathing water category based on the laboratory data. The utility of the sensor as a tool for rapid assessment of bathing water quality was also highlighted.
The Proteus performed extremely well and displayed a strong correlation (r = 0.95) with the laboratory data. Measurements were undertaken in River Lagan, Northern Ireland at 5 sites covering a rural to urban gradient. The key goal of the study was to compare the real-time measurement provided by the Proteus with traditional laboratory measurements of E. RS Hydro were commissioned by a UK government agency to undertake a trial of the Proteus for E.