Method and apparatus for detecting trace amounts of copper and silver in water

1. A method for detecting total silver in a sample of water in parts per billion, the method comprising:

Adding a nitric acid solution to the sample;

After the silver is digested, adding a buffer solution with a pH of approximately 9.2 to the sample, wherein the buffer solution comprises water, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate and EDTA;

Adding an indicator comprising Cadion 2B, EtOH, and Triton X-100 to the sample;

Reading the absorbance of the sample after light with an approximate target peak of 515 nm is sent through the sample; and

Determining the concentration of silver by comparing the absorbance of the sample to the predetermined absorbances of known silver standards.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein for each 3 mL of sample, approximately 50 μL of the nitric acid solution is added, 150 μL of the buffer solution is added, and 50 μL of the indicator is added.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein: (1) the components of the indicator solution are in essentially the proportions: 0.018 g of Cadion 2B, 22.5 mL of ethanol, and 2.5 mL of Triton X100; and (2) the components of the buffer solution are in essentially the proportions: 21 g of sodium bicarbonate and 4.2 g of sodium carbonate anhydrous made up to 250 mL with deionized water, and 0.438 g of EDTA with 1M NaOH as necessary to adjust pH to 9.2.

4. A method for detecting total copper in a sample of water in parts per billion, the method comprising:

Adding a nitric acid solution to the sample;

After the copper is digested, adding a buffer/indicator solution to the sample, wherein the buffer/indicator solution comprises water, sodium citrate dihydrate, hydroxal amine hydrochloride and bathocuproine disulfonate;

Reading the absorbance of the sample after light with an approximate target peak of 484 nm is sent through the sample; and

Determining the concentration of copper by comparing the absorbance of the sample to the predetermined absorbances of known copper standards.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein, for each 3 mL of sample, approximately 50 μL of the nitric acid solution is added and 150 μL of the buffer/indicator solution is added.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the components of the buffer/indicator solution are in essentially the proportions: 2 g sodium citrate dihydrate, 3 g hydroxal amine hydrochloride, and 0.03 g bathocuproine disulfonate dissolved in 25 mL of deionized water.

7. A monitoring device comprising,

a sample cell adapted to receive a fluid sample;

an inlet for receiving a fluid sample having a device for controlling water flow to the sample cell;

at least four containers for holding reagents;

at least four pumps each adapted to pump a reagent from one of the reagent containers to the sample cell;

at least one air pump;

at least one controller operatively connected to at least: (1) the device for controlling water flow to the sample cell and (2) the pumps; and

a device connected to at least three light emitting diodes capable of operating separately, comprising a red LED, a 515 nm LED and a 480 nm LED, and adapted to direct light through the sample cell, receive the light passing through the sample cell and generate a signal indicative of the contents of the fluid sample based upon the received light;

wherein the controller receives data from the device connected to the light emitting diodes and outputs a measurement of parts per billion of silver or of copper, and wherein the controller is programmed to compare the absorbance of the sample to the predetermined absorbances of known silver standards or to the predetermined absorbances of known copper standards;

wherein the controller is programmed to perform the steps comprising:

if a determination of silver concentration is being made, after the silver is digested, (1) injecting the sample with a buffer solution with a pH of approximately 9.2, wherein the buffer solution comprises water, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate and EDTA; and then (2) injecting the sample with an indicator comprising Cadion 2B, EtOH, and Triton X-100; or if a determination of copper concentration is being made, after the copper is digested, injecting the sample with a buffer/indicator solution, wherein the buffer/indicator solution comprises water, sodium citrate dihydrate, hydroxal amine hydrochloride and bathocuproine disulfonate;

f) mixing the sample; and

g) taking an absorbance reading using the 515 nm LED for silver or the 480 LED for copper.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the output is determined for silver using a calibration curve where Y=7836.1x 2 −1383x−54.326 where X is the absorbance and Y is the parts per billion of silver and/or the output is determined for copper by using a calibration curve where Y=4702.2x−27.402 where X is the absorbance and Y is the parts per billion of copper.

9. A method for using the device of claim 7 to determine the concentration of copper or silver in a fluid, wherein the device performs the steps comprising:

a) taking an empty cell reading using the red LED;

b) if the empty cell reading indicates the sample cell is empty, filling the sample cell with a sample of liquid;

c) taking a base absorbance reading;

d) injecting the sample with a nitric acid solution and then mixing the sample;

e) mixing the sample; and

f) taking an absorbance reading using the 515 nm LED for silver or the 480 LED for copper.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the output is determined for silver using a calibration curve where Y=7836.1x 2 −1383x−54.326 where X is the absorbance and Y is the parts per billion of silver and/or the output is determined for copper by using a calibration curve where Y=4702.2x−27.402 where X is the absorbance and Y is the parts per billion of copper.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein, when the concentration of silver is being determined, for each 3 mL of sample, approximately 50 μL of the nitric acid solution is added, 150 μL of the buffer solution is added, and 50 μL of the indicator is added.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein: (1) the components of the indicator solution are in essentially the proportions: 0.018 g of Cadion 2B, 22.5 mL of ethanol, and 2.5 mL of Triton X100; and (2) the components of the buffer solution are in essentially the proportions: 21 g of sodium bicarbonate and 4.2 g of sodium carbonate anhydrous made up to 250 mL with deionized water, and 0.438 g of EDTA with 1M NaOH as necessary to adjust pH to 9.2.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein, when the concentration of copper is being determined, for each 3 mL of sample, 50 μL of the nitric acid solution is added and 150 μL of the buffer/indicator solution is added.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the components of the buffer/indicator solution are in essentially the proportions: 2 g sodium citrate dihydrate, 3 g hydroxal amine hydrochloride, and 0.03 g bathocuproine disulfonate dissolved in 25 mL of deionized water.