Chemical Solution Concentration Measurement
IDS offers a fast and simple procedure for measuring the concentration of any chemical solution in water or other solvents. It uses an automated relay module and multi-valve manifold system to sequentially disperse and measure the spectral absorbance of the solution relative to a reference standard, which can then be used to determine concentrations using the Beer-Lambert Law. The following example involving the measurement of coal fly ash adsorption capacity illustrate how IDS was transformed into an effective tool (IDSorbTM) for concrete applications. In this case, IDS was used to identify, measure and quantify the amount of surfactants adsorbed on a given fly ash produced by a coal-fired power station. In the preparation of “ready mix” concrete, air-entraining admixtures (AEAs) are used to enable the formation of micro air bubbles in the materials. Such air bubbles allow for the contraction and expansion of concrete during freeze and thaw events and help avoid the formation of cracks. The use of coal fly ash in concrete can interfere with this process when the residual carbon interacts with the added AEAs. This makes the process of determining the required amount of AEAs unpredictable and dependent on the type and source of fly ash. IDSorbTM can make the process more predictable by accurately measuring the AEA concentration a given fly ash will adsorb. It can also be used to measure any desorption activities (such as the presence of ammonia) when fly ash is added to water/concrete mixtures.
Link to the IDSorb page : https://phosphortech.com/idsorb/
A sample of adsorption data and isotherm graphs can be found at : https://phosphortech.com/ids-data/
The high sensitivity and low detection limits of the IDS enables it to measure very small changes in chemical concentrations, which makes it possible to determine the chemical adsorption/desorption of a given solution (or dissolved gas) on a solid.