Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) is one method, says PerkinElmer, to meet tighter World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on contaminants in desalinated water for potable uses.
By Zoe Grosser
Tighter freshwater supplies coupled with growing populations have stressed conventional sources of drinking water such as ground and surface water. Groundwater pollution has further reduced sources of drinking water or increased requirements and costs for cleanup. As such, desalination is increasingly a global relief valve to these water woes. Improved technology and decreased costs make it an attractive option when compared to the rising cost of clean water obtained from other sources.
Large-scale desalination technology has been in use for decades. In fact, Aruba and Curaçao celebrated 70 years of continuous desalination operation. Over 10,000 facilities operate worldwide, with a capacity to produce more than 35 million cubic meters per day (m3/day) of fresh water. Of the 100 largest, 18 were in the USA but only one among the top 10 – and only four of the top 25 weren’t in the Mid-East. Although seawater is the primary feedstock, brackish water or treated wastewater are potential starting materials for non-coastal communities.
Supplying quality drinking water remains the primary goal of desalination. Source water and the final treated water must be analyzed to help optimize treatment and ensure drinking water regulatory requirements are met. Analytical challenges in the analysis of various types of water for desalination arise because of the matrix, which may vary and often contains high salt content.
Water Analysis Requirements
Desalinated water for drinking water and must meet regulatory requirements for microbiological, organic and inorganic contaminants. Table 1 shows of the 69 regulated primary organic and inorganic contaminants, and the maximum amounts allowed in drinking water, as prescribed in 40CFR, Part 141 of U.S. standards. Specified to measure these compounds are in the last column. Most analysis techniques have improved over the years, but ICP-MS also has been used in a new way. It and other advances are described here.