Respirometer Systems and Applications, LLC

Respirometer Systems and Applications, LLC - Improved technology for analyzing the treatability of wastewater.

Our team members have over 80 years of combined experience with the design and operation of respirometer system and application of respirometry to assessment of wastewater treatability and diagnosing wastewater treatment problems.
Our scientists and engineers have three patents on respirometer design and one application underway and have published over 100 articles and one book on respirometry.

Our team members have provided training to over 100 users of respirometer system throughout the world.
Our associate laboratory – EnviTreat, LLC – has 12 years of experience with conducting respirometer tests for clients throughout the world.

Applications

PULSE-FLOW RESPIROMETER SYSTEMS

Are ideally suited to aerobic and anaerobic applications for:

• Biodegradation studies
• Toxicity assessments
• Biomass activity monitoring
• Assessing factors affecting treatment plant performance
• Conducting intrinsic and extant kinetic analyses
• Research and development applications
• Industrial waste treatability assessments
• Conducting oxygen uptake fingerprints (OUR respirograms)
• Measuring oxygen uptake or gas production in laboratory-scale pilot plants
• Measuring oxygen uptake for OECD, ASTM, EPA biodegradation protocols.

Features of Pulse-Flow Respirometers

Mode of Operation:When operating in the aerobic mode, oxygen – from a supply of pure oxygen – is added in small increments into each respirometer vessel in response to oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide absorption. This mode of operation maintains a constant oxygen concentration in the headspace within the reaction vessel. Oxygen transfer from the headspace to the liquid phase is accomplished by using magnetic stirring units having high mixing rates. When operating in anoxic or anaerobic modes, gases produced by biological reactions flow into an internal storage chamber and are released when a pre-set pressure buildup is detected by a pressure transducer. These incremental volumes are carefully controlled through accurate calibrations established by RSA.

Number of Reactors:4, 8, 16, and 24-position system are available. Four-position systems can be expanded to 8 positions with the addition of an internal expansion module. Eight-position systems can be expanded to 16 and 24-position systems with addition of satellite flow-control modules.All units of a system are connected to a single computer for data acquisition.

Operating Mode:All standard Pulse-Flow respirometer systems can be operated in aerobic or anaerobic modes without the need to purchase separate control modules or complicated hardware. Anaerobic-only or aerobic-only systems are available on request.

Stirring Base: The RSA-4000 and RSA-8000 stirring bases are designed and constructed with the following features:
- Individual or simultaneous speed control
- Stirring speeds up to 1,500 rpm
- Minimal heat generation
- Stainless steel cabinets to eliminate corrosion
- Welded joints to eliminate water damage.

Data Acquisition:Oxygen uptake or gas production pulses are registered by computer. The data are filed as cumulative oxygen uptake when operating in the aerobic mode or as gas production when operating in the anaerobic mode. The software is available for 4, 8, 16 and 24-reactor systems and operates in the Windows™ graphics software environment. Data acquisition is independent for each reactor. The data are filed in a convenient format for subsequent processing or mathematical model.

Modular Design:Independent cabinets for control modules and stirring bases allow maximum flexibility in use of laboratory counter space. The control modules for 16- and 24-position Pulse-Flow systems can be operated together or independently. Individual 8-position control modules can be operated at different temperatures or test conditions if desired or one module can be operated aerobically while another is operated anaerobically. Individual control modules can be operated for combined or individual data acquisition.

Temperature Control:Pulse-Flow respirometers can be used in constant temperature incubators, or optional water baths and heating/cooling units are available from RSA.

Reaction Vessels:Except for a few specialty items, Pulse-Flow respirometers use standard glassware and supplies that are available from most chemical supply companies. Standard bottles accommodate 500 mL sample volumes. Bottle sizes can vary from 250 mL to 2 L depending on test objectives.

Sensitivity:The lowest increment of oxygen uptake is 0.05 mg. The highest oxygen uptake rate for the standard system configuration is 1,200 mg/hr. Rates can be increased more than 10-fold by adding simple plug-in flow expansion modules. These high rates are useful for monitoring oxygen uptake in large laboratory-scale pilot units.

System Specifications: - 4, 8, 16, and 24-position flow measuring capacity
- Stainless steel cases for control modules and stirring bases
- Standard accessories include: 500 mL reaction vessels with caps and septa; tubing, carbon dioxide absorption inserts, and essential supplies needed for startup.
- Optional stainless steel water bath
- Optional heating/cooling unit for temperature control in water baths
- Electrical: Low-voltage 12 VDC power supply for both the control module and stirring base.

Operational Specifications: - Minimum oxygen uptake = 0.05 mg
- Maximum oxygen uptake > 1,200 mg/hr
(expandable to 12,000 mg/hr or greater)
- Minimum gas flow = 0.04 mL
- Maximum gas flow rate > 1,000 mL/hr
(expandable to as high as 10 L/hr)
- Operating temperature: 5 to 70oC
- Sensitivity: < 0.05 mg (aerobic), < 0.04 mL (anaerobic)
- Precision: < 3% CV aerobic and anaerobic
- Warranty: 1 yr against mfg defects (except expendable supplies)

Computer Specifications:-Desktop, tower or laptop can be used
- Pentium 233 or higher is suitable
- Windows™ NT, 2000, XP or Vista compatible
- USB port required for data acquisition

Installation:All purchases of 8 to 24 –position Pulse-Flow respirometers include installation and start-up training. RSA’s application specialists are available by email or telephone for three months after installation to assist users with operation and application of their unit. Additional assistance with operation and application – including on-site consultation – can be purchased on short-term or long-term care arrangements. Installation and training are optional for 4-position systems.

Leasing and Rental:Pulse-Flow respirometer systems are available on a lease-purchase option whereby payment can be made over 12 to 24 months. Assistance services via email or telephone are included for the duration of the lease. Pulse-Flow respirometers also are available for rental on a short-term basis.

Additional Features-No special oils are required for operation, thereby avoiding spills and inconvenient cleanups
- No grease is required to seal the reaction vessels, thereby eliminating messy cleanup.
- Flexible operation. The modular design helps to optimize counter space