Electrodes for Potable Water Treatment Offer Savings of £1 Million per Year

Refex (Ireland) has supplied Irish water companies with the EC-3/4"-2001-Pt1000-LE all in one combination electrode for use in 120 pH measurement systems.

Compatible with all good quality pH instruments possessing dual high impedance inputs for pH and reference electrodes, the EC-3/4"-2001-Pt1000-LE boasts the patented and unique Refex solid-state non-porous reference interface. Zero liquid contact or exchange between the waters being tested and the Refex internal Ag/AgCl half-cell results in assured mV integrity.

In addition to the above benefits, the non-porous quality of the Refex electrode means that it cannot be fouled or poisoned, and prevents all KCl electrolyte dilution/wash out. As a result, electrode life in the Refex flow cell can exceed an incredible 5 years. Unlike Refex non-porous electrodes, electrodes with porous reference junctions need to be replaced every 6 - 12 months. Further, the non-porous reference interface/barrier provides the ultimate accuracy without any diffusion potential errors (normally pH 0.3 in cold low ionic raw- waters).

For water utility companies operating several hundred pH installations, the Refex electrode provides considerable cost and time saving benefits. Under usual circumstances, pH electrode maintenance is weekly. However, Refex electrodes are extremely reliable and almost maintenance free, requiring only a hose wash and buffer check every 90 days. This results in a real-world reduction of 1 man hour of maintenance per week for each pH loop, ordinarily costing around £40 an hour – quite a sum of money that can now be saved thanks to Refex!                         

And the savings continue. Important for optimised coagulation, this electrode responds instantly to pH change. This lightning-fast response saves £2000 per month on correction and coagulation/flocculation chemicals at each Water Treatment Works (WTW) because there is no over-shoot beyond the high/low pH control set points. This is a considerable reduction in costs for the water utility companies, many of which average 5 pH loops per WTW. Optimised coagulation also has knock-on advantages downstream, especially for primary and secondary filtration.

Electrode life in the Refex flow cell can exceed an incredible 5 years. Unlike Refex non-porous electrodes, electrodes with porous reference junctions need to be replaced every 6 - 12 months due to reference electrode degradation and KCl electrolyte wash-out/dilution that causes mV drifting and errors.

Refex also offers a 3 year electrode warranty - like no other electrode.

Refex – the First to Last.