Automated analyser for monitoring trace amounts of volatile chloro-organic compounds in recirculated industrial water.

An automated analyser of volatile chloro-organic compounds in water was constructed and tested using standard mixtures of dichloromethane and dichloroethane. It was based on continuous, countercurrent gas stripping of the liquid sample followed by periodic trapping of the analytes on two traps alternately connected to the bubbler outlet, and thermal desorption. When one trap performed adsorption, the other underwent desorption and cooling. Analytes were detected by an ECD detector. Integration, calibration, calculations and overall operating cycle control was performed by a microcomputer. The instrument guarantees a 0.02 ppm Cl (w/w) detection limit, a 0-2 ppm detection range and 2 months of autonomous operation. Results are reported every 13 min.