Module 2: Water Budget, Pressures and
Impacts, Significant Water Management
Issues, Monitoring, Characterization Report
Review of Mobile Laboratoriein Turkey for On Site Analysis
An Overview
Michael Jackman, Chemistry Expert
Mobile Laboratories
Off-road 4X4 vehicles, which are small but have the advantage of
reaching remote regions
Trailer Mobile Laboratories
Trailer Mobile Laboratory External Trailer Mobile
Laboratory Internal
Used on the Caspian Sea
Examples of Physico- Chemical Test Kits
Muti-parameter Water Quality Sonde
 There are currently at least 42 mobile laboratories within MOFAL and it is
understood that more mobile labs are to be procured to improve the sampling
•
Equipment in Mobile Laboratories
Palintest dedicated UV /visible spectrophotometer with dedicated laptop computer
Palintest colorimetric reagents for the NO3, PO4, TN, & TP with the associated
methods.
Palintest hotplate for digestion for TN and TP.
WTW pH meter /pH probe
Lang – DO Meter
Jenway EC meter/ Probe
Flame photometer
Operating and method manuals
Equipment in Mobile Laboratories
* Soil physical analysis equipment currently unused.
* Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) system
* Excessively large HP Printer – this will be replaced by a *
smaller and simpler unit.
* Stainless steel sink
* Refrigerator
* Ultra Pure Water system
* Photometer
The Palintest is a considered to be useful system of
analysis.
Observations
The Palinstest system may not be as accurate and precise as the results
obtained with more advanced spectrophotometers with better optics in
the permanent laboratories.
The hotplate method in the mobile laboratory for Total Nitrogen (TN) and
Total Phosphorous (TN &TP) may not be as aggressive as specialized
custom made units as noted above. Therefore the TP and TN results may
be lower owing to incomplete digestion.
Harmonisation
It is recommended that the results of these are compared with
those obtained in the central permanent laboratories.
Furthermore it is essential that the optimum quality controls
are applied
Ideally method validations should be carried out
Spectrophotometers vs Photometers
 MOFAL was considering purchasing more mobile laboratories but
changing the Palintest spectrophotometers with photometers.
 An assessment was carried out on these equipment options and a
summary report assessing these issues was submitted and is included
in Annex 2 Water Analysis Report
Spectrophotometers vs Photometers
 The Dept of Land Rehabilitation & Irrigation Systems (DoLRIS) Ankara
(MoFAL) was about to procure 40 more chemical analysis kits
 It was debating whether to procure UV/Vis spectrophotometers or simple
photometers and requested urgent advice on this.
Spectrophotometers vs Photometers
 The analytical methods for determining up to 40 different parameters,
including nitrates and phosphates, in water can use colorimetric
methods.
 This technique entails adding specific reagents to the sample which
react with the parameter to develop a coloured compound.
 The intensity of the colour can be measured either by a photometer or
spectrophotometer to determine the concentration of the parameter by
measuring the absorbance at a specific wavelength
 The photometer uses simple coloured filters to determine the
wavelength and a simple photodetector. So it is relatively inexpensive,
robust, portable and easy to use.
 The spectrophotometer uses a very sensitive monochromator to
determine the wavelength and therefore is more accurate, and sensitive
.To clarify this Table 1 highlights the differences with this equipment
Differences between photometers & spectrophotometers
Ion Specific Electrodes ISE
 The ISE methods apply a potentiometric technique that can be relatively
easy by simply using specific electrodes that are sensitive to certain ions
such as nitrates.
 Normally there is no need to filter the samples but often require the
addition of specific buffer solutions
 the electrode must be calibrated using semi-logarithmic
 Mobile Laboratories -Advantages
 Analyses can be undertaken on –site
 No possibility of sample degradation
 No need to preserve samples and
 Easy to take follow up samples at nearby sites
 e.g. find source of pollution
Mobile Laboratories
Disadvantages
Some methods may not be so accurate as those in permanent
Laboratory
Recommendations
Ideally need to take duplicate samples to check at central
laboratory
Ensure that quality controls are in place
Check the methods by Method Validations
Reference
Framework Contract Beneficiaries Lot 6: Environment
EuropeAid/127054/C/SER/multi: Further Enhancement of MFAL
Actions towards the Nitrates Pollution Monitoring Network
Expansion and CoGAP Application
Specific Contract n° ALTUN/NPMNE/TR2010/0740.01-2/FWC/082
April 2014Technical Report- Task B1: Harmonisation of
Methods for Analysis of Nitrates
To optimise the sampling and the analysis, on-site analysis is
very useful.
However, the support and checking by a central permanent
laboratory is also essential.
Thank you for your attention.