LABTECH

• 71% of the Earth's surface is composed of water (97% salt water, 2% ice water, 1% freshwater)
• The freezing point of water: 0ºC, 32ºF, 273.12K
• The longest river is the Nile River, but some are exploring the Amazon River
• Water analysis


  Process of testing and evaluating the quality and composition of water
• Water analysis


  • Examining physical, chemical, and biological properties
  • Identifies threats and take measures to treat or filter the water and improve its quality before consumption
  • Valuable data for research (studying water quality and its impact on ecosystems and species)
• Importance of water analysis

  • Food and beverage industry
  • Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Agricultural Industry
  • Power Generation and Oil Refineries
• Chemical water analysis


  Examining the concentration of chemical compounds in water
• Chloride ion


  • Concentration can indicate contamination and the presence of saline water
  • High levels can lead to a salty taste and may cause corrosion in pipelines
• Ammonia


  • Concentration can increase with the use of chloramine in water disinfection processes
  • High levels in drinking water can have diverse health effects and may lead to distinctive tastes and odor
• Nitrite & Nitrate


  • Present due to organic matter decomposition and atmospheric nitrogen fixation
  • Can be toxic esp in high levels and can cause "baby blue syndrome" in infants
• Phosphate


  • Comes from agricultural waste, sewage, and industrial effluents
  • Not toxic but high concentrations can lead to water eutrophication — excessive plant & algal growth
• Hardness


  • Presence of calcium and magnesium salts in water
  • Temporary hardness: due to carbonate and bicarbonate ions
  • Permanent hardness: due to chloride and sulfate ions
• Physical water analysis


  • Examining the physical properties of water
• Temperature


  • Affects the dissolved oxygen content, solubility of gases, and growth of aquatic organisms
  • Plays a significant role in physical and biological processes
• Color


  • Can indicate the presence of suspended or dissolved substances
• Turbidity


  • Measures the extent to which light is absorbed or scattered by suspended particles in water
  • Indicates the presence of particulate matter — sediment, algae, organic particles
  • Can be measured with a turbidity meter
• Conductivity


  • Measures ability of water to conduct electrical current influenced by dissolved salts, minerals, and other ions
  • Greater number of ions = higher conductivity level
• Biological water analysis


  • Assesses the presence of microorganisms and biological indicators in water
  • Indicators can provide an understanding of the health and safety of water
• Major parameters and corresponding methods

  • Electrical Conductivity
  • pH value
  • Fluoride
  • Ammonium & Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
  • Ion Chromatography
• Instruments used in labs

  • Ion chromatography
  • Gas chromatography
  • High-pressure liquid chromatography
  • Total organic carbon
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
  • Fourier-transform infrared analysis
• Prepare and collect water samples

  1. Having the necessary equipment

  2. Choose the correct sampling location

  3. Take precautions

  4. Collect at least 500mL

  5. Proper labeling and recording

  6. Take care of samples
• Grab sampling technique

  • Clean containers to directly collect a sample from a specific source
  • Collect multiple grab samples from different locations in the water source for accuracy
  • Help to account for variations in water quality that may exist in the area

  
• Composite sampling technique


  • Collect multiple grab samples over a specific period of time (e.g: 24 hours — usually, 12 hrs, 48 hours, etc.)
  • Combine them into one representative sample
  • Purpose is to obtain an average composition of the water over a given period

  
• Water test parameters


  • Health risk parameters
  • General parameters
  • Nuisance parameters
• It is safe to drink tap water if anyone controls that the disinfection byproduct levels are not exceeding the norms. Those who are undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, suffering from serious diseases, transplant patients, pregnant women, infants, and children should drink safe water only. Water testing is step one to guarantee drinking water safety.
• Soil analysis


  Used to determine the level of nutrients found in a soil sample
• Importance of soil analysis

  • Optimize crop production
  • Protect the environment from contamination by runoff and leaching of excess fertilizers
  • Aid in diagnosis of plant culture problems
  • Improve the nutritional balance of the growing media
  • Save money and conserve energy by applying enough amount of fertilizer
• Soil pH


  • Indicates soil acidity or alkalinity of the soil
  • From 0 to 14
  • Below 7.0: acidic; above 7.0: alkaline
• Soluble salts


  • Water stress, nutrient imbalances in plants, affect nutrient uptake
  • Above 4 mhos/cm = damage plants
• Excess lime


  • Measurement of the amount of free lime in the soil
• Organic matter (OM)


  • Higher OM = healthier soil
  • Measures the ability of the soil to supply nutrients, water, and other physical benefits for growing plants
• Cation exchange capacity (CEC)


  • Measures ability of soil to store and release nutrients
  • Define soil's texture and composition
  • Sandy soil to loam soil common range: 13-25 CEC
• Percent base saturation


  • Closely related to CEC and pH
  • Nutrient supply and cations for K, Mg, Ca, H, and Na
• Micronutrients present


  • Nitrogen (N)
  • Phosphorus (P)
  • Sulfur (S)
  • Zinc (Zn)
  • Iron (Fe)
  • Manganese (Mn)
  • Copper (Cu)
  • Potassium (K)
  • Calcium (Ca)
  • Magnesium (Mg)
  • Sodium (Na)
• Air analysis


  Analysis of ambient air is critical to identify pollutants present and determine their concentrations

  
• Air quality index (AQI)


  Like a thermometer that runs from 0-500 degrees that shows changes in the amount of pollution
• Five major air pollutants

  • Ground level ozone
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Nitrogen dioxide
  • Airborne particles or aerosols
• The Philippines' rank in air pollution is 64/118 (2021 — AQI). The worst air quality in 2021 was in Bangladesh, Chad, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The worst air quality in 2023 was in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and the Philippines.
• Air pollution in the Philippines

  • According to WHO, levels of airborne particles of Lead (Pb) are three times than the acceptable figure
  • Concentrations of PM2.5 are unacceptably high as well
  • 80% motor vehicles
  • 20% stationary sources
  • Weather
• Bray Test

  neutral an low pH levels