Advancing Nanotechnologies for the PeCOD COD Analyzer
MANTECH’s PeCOD Analyzer
MANTECH is a Guelph-based manufacturer of innovative water and soil analysis systems. Specifically, MANTECH products help industrial facilities, laboratories, and utilities deliver clean, safe water and protect the environment.
MANTECH’s mission is:
“to generate the highest quality results, in the shortest amount of time, with green methods, using simple and smart analyzers.” (MANTECH)
Consequently, with this mission in mind, MANTECH created the PeCOD analyzer, a patented technology that replaces traditional dichromate COD methods. By advancing nanotechnologies for the PeCOD COD analyzer, MANTECH delivers faster, greener results. Traditional chemical oxygen demand (COD) testing is often used as an alternative to biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) testing. Labs prefer COD because it enables timely decisions water quality decisions, whereas BOD testing takes five to seven days. However, COD testing involves the use of harmful chemicals such as mercury and dichromate.
PeCOD COD Analyzer
The PeCOD COD Analyzer provides accurate COD results in just 10 minutes. It offers a safe, green, and reliable solution for BOD/COD testing. Specifically, PeCOD uses a photoelectrochemical method that uses nanotechnology to produce hydroxyl radicals.
The PeCOD sensor forms the core of the technology, which consists of a UV-activated nanoparticle TiO2 (titanium dioxide) photocatalyst coupled to an external circuit. When a sample enters the microcell containing the PeCOD sensor, UV light irradiates the TiO2, and a potential bias is applied. Then, the UV light creates a photohole in the TiO2 sensor with very high oxidizing power, and it oxidizes the organics in the cell. PeCOD is extremely accurate across a broad range of organics. As a result, the powerful oxidizing potential of UV-illuminated TiO2 ensures that virtually all species are fully oxidized, giving a true measure of COD.
Advancing Nanotechnologies for PeCOD at UWaterloo
In addition to developing its own technologies, MANTECH collaborates with the Nano and Micro Systems Lab at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. The lab is working on water sensor technologies, advancing water sensor technologies by improving existing methods and developing new materials for photoelectrochemical oxidation of organics.
From the UWaterloo site:
“This Photo-electrochemical Oxygen detector (PeCOD) technology will utilize thin-films, UV-excitation, and develop metamaterial solutions to improve the performance and accessibility of this critical aspect of water quality assessment.”
For further insight, see the accompanying graphic for a visual explanation. Additionally, this paper details the scientific analysis of the process.
