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Calibration and ISO GUM Based Uncertainty of Conductivity and TDS Meters for Better Water Quality Monitoring

Received: 9 November 2022    Accepted: 24 November 2022    Published: 30 November 2022
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Abstract

Water quality monitoring is of fundamental importance for health and environmental protection. Conductivity and the total dissolved substance (TDS) are two important water quality parameters. Their monitoring requires good calibration of the measuring equipment and correct assessment of the measurement uncertainty so that the water quality limits can be well judged. Though many published research articles include conductivity and TDS measurement results, there is no published ISO GUM approach for estimation of the uncertainty in the calibration measurement results. In this work, the linearity of a conductivity meter was established using three certified reference materials (CRMs) of 100, 500 and 1410.7μS/cm and then a one-point calibration using CRM of 1410.7μS/cm was carried out. The calibration method was validated by studying its accuracy, precision and bias. The method was found fit-for-the purpose and the uncertainty sources of calibration were identified and estimated based on ISO GUM. Then a standard solution of concentration 0.01M was prepared from high purity KCl to provide conductivity of 1411μS/cm. The corresponding TDS value of this solution was found 745 mg/L and its traceability to the SI units was achieved by weighing the mass of KCl using a calibrated balance and by measuring the volume of water using a calibrated measuring flak. This solution was used to perform a one-point calibration of a TDS meter then the meter was allowed to read the TDS 10 times and the uncertainty of the measurement results was estimated based on ISO GUM. The results obtained proved a very good calibration of both meters. An overall approach for estimation of the calibration uncertainty was developed, which will be very useful in water quality monitoring measurements.

Published in Science Journal of Chemistry (Volume 10, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13
Page(s) 211-218
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Conductivity, TDS, Calibration, Method Validation, ISO GUM Uncertainty

References
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[4] Andres M, Maile P, Argo J. (2013). A new approach for describing the relationship between electrical conductivity and major anion concentration in natural waters; Applied Geochemistry 38 103–109.
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[6] Navneet, Kumar, D. K. S. (2010). Drinking water quality management through correlation studies among various physicochemical parameters: A case study, International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 1 (2), pp 253-259.
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[15] Kumar S. K, Logeshkumaran A., Magesh N. S, Godson P. S. and Chandrasekar N. (2015). Hydrogeochemistry and application of water quality index (WQI) for groundwater quality assessment, Anna Nagar, part of Chennai City, Tamil Nadu, India Appl. Water Sci. 5 335–343.
[16] Hem, D. (1985). Study and Interpretation the Chemical of Natural of Characteristics Natural Water 3rd edition USGS Water Supply Paper 2254 66-69 US Gov. Printing Office Washington DC.
[17] JCGM 200 (2012). International vocabulary of metrology–Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM), 3rd edition.
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    Adel Bassuoni Shehata, Abdulrahman Rashed AlAskar, Rashed Abdallah Al Dosari, Fahd Refaei Al Mutairi. (2022). Calibration and ISO GUM Based Uncertainty of Conductivity and TDS Meters for Better Water Quality Monitoring. Science Journal of Chemistry, 10(6), 211-218. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13

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    ACS Style

    Adel Bassuoni Shehata; Abdulrahman Rashed AlAskar; Rashed Abdallah Al Dosari; Fahd Refaei Al Mutairi. Calibration and ISO GUM Based Uncertainty of Conductivity and TDS Meters for Better Water Quality Monitoring. Sci. J. Chem. 2022, 10(6), 211-218. doi: 10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13

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    AMA Style

    Adel Bassuoni Shehata, Abdulrahman Rashed AlAskar, Rashed Abdallah Al Dosari, Fahd Refaei Al Mutairi. Calibration and ISO GUM Based Uncertainty of Conductivity and TDS Meters for Better Water Quality Monitoring. Sci J Chem. 2022;10(6):211-218. doi: 10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13,
      author = {Adel Bassuoni Shehata and Abdulrahman Rashed AlAskar and Rashed Abdallah Al Dosari and Fahd Refaei Al Mutairi},
      title = {Calibration and ISO GUM Based Uncertainty of Conductivity and TDS Meters for Better Water Quality Monitoring},
      journal = {Science Journal of Chemistry},
      volume = {10},
      number = {6},
      pages = {211-218},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjc.20221006.13},
      abstract = {Water quality monitoring is of fundamental importance for health and environmental protection. Conductivity and the total dissolved substance (TDS) are two important water quality parameters. Their monitoring requires good calibration of the measuring equipment and correct assessment of the measurement uncertainty so that the water quality limits can be well judged. Though many published research articles include conductivity and TDS measurement results, there is no published ISO GUM approach for estimation of the uncertainty in the calibration measurement results. In this work, the linearity of a conductivity meter was established using three certified reference materials (CRMs) of 100, 500 and 1410.7μS/cm and then a one-point calibration using CRM of 1410.7μS/cm was carried out. The calibration method was validated by studying its accuracy, precision and bias. The method was found fit-for-the purpose and the uncertainty sources of calibration were identified and estimated based on ISO GUM. Then a standard solution of concentration 0.01M was prepared from high purity KCl to provide conductivity of 1411μS/cm. The corresponding TDS value of this solution was found 745 mg/L and its traceability to the SI units was achieved by weighing the mass of KCl using a calibrated balance and by measuring the volume of water using a calibrated measuring flak. This solution was used to perform a one-point calibration of a TDS meter then the meter was allowed to read the TDS 10 times and the uncertainty of the measurement results was estimated based on ISO GUM. The results obtained proved a very good calibration of both meters. An overall approach for estimation of the calibration uncertainty was developed, which will be very useful in water quality monitoring measurements.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Calibration and ISO GUM Based Uncertainty of Conductivity and TDS Meters for Better Water Quality Monitoring
    AU  - Adel Bassuoni Shehata
    AU  - Abdulrahman Rashed AlAskar
    AU  - Rashed Abdallah Al Dosari
    AU  - Fahd Refaei Al Mutairi
    Y1  - 2022/11/30
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13
    T2  - Science Journal of Chemistry
    JF  - Science Journal of Chemistry
    JO  - Science Journal of Chemistry
    SP  - 211
    EP  - 218
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-099X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjc.20221006.13
    AB  - Water quality monitoring is of fundamental importance for health and environmental protection. Conductivity and the total dissolved substance (TDS) are two important water quality parameters. Their monitoring requires good calibration of the measuring equipment and correct assessment of the measurement uncertainty so that the water quality limits can be well judged. Though many published research articles include conductivity and TDS measurement results, there is no published ISO GUM approach for estimation of the uncertainty in the calibration measurement results. In this work, the linearity of a conductivity meter was established using three certified reference materials (CRMs) of 100, 500 and 1410.7μS/cm and then a one-point calibration using CRM of 1410.7μS/cm was carried out. The calibration method was validated by studying its accuracy, precision and bias. The method was found fit-for-the purpose and the uncertainty sources of calibration were identified and estimated based on ISO GUM. Then a standard solution of concentration 0.01M was prepared from high purity KCl to provide conductivity of 1411μS/cm. The corresponding TDS value of this solution was found 745 mg/L and its traceability to the SI units was achieved by weighing the mass of KCl using a calibrated balance and by measuring the volume of water using a calibrated measuring flak. This solution was used to perform a one-point calibration of a TDS meter then the meter was allowed to read the TDS 10 times and the uncertainty of the measurement results was estimated based on ISO GUM. The results obtained proved a very good calibration of both meters. An overall approach for estimation of the calibration uncertainty was developed, which will be very useful in water quality monitoring measurements.
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Chemistry Department, National Measurement and Calibration Center (NMCC), Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Chemistry Department, National Measurement and Calibration Center (NMCC), Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Chemistry Department, National Measurement and Calibration Center (NMCC), Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Chemistry Department, National Measurement and Calibration Center (NMCC), Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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