Patent ID: 7981679
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring and controlling bulk (total) microbiological water activity in a process stream comprising: a. connecting an apparatus to a process stream, wherein said apparatus comprises a flow cell containing a plurality of openings, wherein at least one opening is a flow cell inlet for fluid drawn from said process stream and at least one opening is a flow cell outlet for fluid exiting said flow cell, a DO probe attached to one of said openings, optionally an ORP probe attached to one of said openings, optionally a cleaning device attached to one of said openings, optionally a first conduit attached to the flow cell inlet, optionally a second conduit attached to the flow cell outlet, and optionally a valve associated with said flow cell; b. drawing fluid from said process steam into said flow cell excluding adding oxygen and/or nutrients to the drawn fluid; c. opening the valve of said apparatus to allow fluid to be drawn into said flow cell; d. taking a first measurement, the first measurement measuring at least once the DO concentration of said process stream with said DO probe, and wherein prior to each measuring of the first measurement the surface of said DO probe is cleaned; e. closing the valve of said apparatus to prevent fluid from being drawn into said flow cell; f. taking a second measurement, the second measurement measuring at least once the DO concentration of the fluid inside said apparatus with said DO probe, and wherein prior to each measuring of the second measurement the surface of said DO probe is cleaned; g. calculating a ΔDO reading between step (d) and step (f); h. correlating at least said ΔDO value in step (g) with bulk (total) microbiological activity in said process stream; and i. controlling the amount of said microbiological activity by adding an effective amount of a treatment containing one or more oxidizing biocides to the process stream and/or an effective amount of a treatment containing one or more non-oxidizing biocides and optionally a mixture containing an n-hydrogen compound, an oxidizing biocide, and optionally a buffer to the process stream.