Thermo Scientific AQ3010 Instruction Manual

Thermo Scientific Orion
AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter

User Guide

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The specific

ations, descriptions, drawings, ordering information and part numbers within this document are subject to change without notice.

This publication supersedes all previous publications on this subject.

Table of Content

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

General Information .
AQ3010 Meter Overview .

Unpacking the Meter and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

isplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

D
Keys and Functions.
Battery Installation .

Turbidity Calibration .

Calibration Overview .
Indexing .
Calibration Standards .
Preparing and Filling the Calibration Standard Vials .
Calibration Check.
Refilling the Calibration Standard Vials with Fresh Standard.
Calibration Procedure .
Restoring Factory Calibration .

Turbidity Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

General Information .
Turbidity Measurement Procedure .

Preparation of Sample Vial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

M

ingle-Shot or Continuous Measurement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

easurement Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

. . . . . . . . 10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Routine Maintenance .

Vials – Handling, Cleaning and Care .

Customer Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Troubleshooting Guide
Assistance .
Warranty .
Notice of Compliance .
WEEE Compliance.
Declaration of Conformity .
Ordering Information .
Specifications.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

I

Appendix 1

Turbidity Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Definition .
Why Is It Important .
Measurement Principle .
Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) .
Indexing a Vial .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Appendix 2

Guide to Good Measurement Technique .

Maintain Sample Vials in Good Condition.
Match Sample Vials.
Degassing .
Timeliness of Sample.
Other Important Sampling Techniques .
Calibration Techniques .
Dilution Techniques .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

II Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Chapter 1 Introduction

General

Information

This user guide contains information on the preparation, operation
and maintenance of the Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast® AQ3010
turbidity meter.
help you operate the waterproof AQ3010 turbidity meter and serves as a
handy r

Follow the basic instructions contained in this user guide during the
operation, car
provided by this equipment may be impaired if it is used in a manner not
described in this user guide
read this user guide prior to working with this meter.

The manufacturer will not accept any responsibility for damage or
malfunction to the meter caused b

The information presented in this user guide is subject to change without
notice as improvements are made, and does not represent a commitment
on the par

Note: The manufacturer reserves the right to make improvements in
design, constr

eference guide.

This user guide provides both a step by step guide to

e and maintenance of the meter. The safety protections

. It is recommended that all operators should

y improper use of the instrument.

t of the manufacturer.

uction and appearance of products without notice.

AQ3010 Meter

Overview

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Thank you for selecting the waterproof portable AQ3010 turbidity
meter.

The AQ3010 meter allows you to measure turbidity of an aqueous
sample in the field. This instrument operates on the nephelometric
principle of turbidity measurement and is designed to meet the criteria
specified in ISO 7027 and DIN 27027 standar
Principle section

.

ds. See the Measurement

1

Unpacking

the Meter and

Accessories

The list below indicates the items that you should find in your AQ3010
turbidity meter shipment.

Item Quantity

AQ3010 portable turbidity meter with 4 AAA batteries 1

User guide 1

Instrument carrying case 1

Light shield cover 1

Calibration set with 0.02, 20.0,100 and 800 NTU standards 1

Empty calibration vials 4

Empty sample vials 3

Silicone oil 1

Lint free cloth 1

Vial cleaning brush 1

Remove the AQ3010 turbidity meter from the carrying case. Carefully
inspect all items to ensure that no visible damage has occurred during
shipment

. If the items you received do not match your order, please

contact your dealer immediately.

Warning: Extra care should be taken when unpacking, opening and
handling the calibration standar

ds and sample vials. Surface scratches
or finger smudges on the vial surface may cause measurement errors.
Handle these items by their caps only.

The batteries provided with the meter package are to be installed prior to
use

. Refer to the Battery Installation section

Figure 1 sho

ws the meter. The three main components of the instrument

.

are the sample well, the display and the keypad. The following sections
describe the functionality of the display and the keypad. The proper use
of the instrument and the sample well are discussed in later sections.

2 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Figure 1

Sample Well

Alignment Mark

Liquid Crystal Display

Keypad

Sample Vial

AQ3010 Turbidity

Meter Components

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

3

Display

CAL 13 CAL 24

mg/l
NTU
ppm
%pH

TAvg

14-segment Liquid Crystal Display

Battery Indicator

Calibration
Standards

Units of
Measurement

Figure 2

Customized LCD with

All Annunciators

All the LCD segments and annunciators that can appear on the display
are shown in Figure 2.

The display is used for reporting the turbidity
reading and to provide guidance for the operation of the instrument.
In addition, the display has several other annunciators that are used to
communicate err

or messages and provide user guidance.

4 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

read

enter

cal

Turbidity Meter Chlorine Colorimeter

Keys and

CAL

CAL

CAL

READ

ENTER

CAL

CAL

Functions

The keypad has five keys: ON/OFF, CAL, ▲, ▼ and READ/ENTER.

Key Functions

Powers on and off the meter. The meter automatically
shuts off 20 minutes after last key press to conserve the
battery life.

Initiates the calibration mode of the meter. When pressed,
the meter is set to accept the first calibration standard.

It is also used to exit the calibration mode if the user does
not want to follow the complete calibration procedure.

When in measurement mode, the READ/ENTER key is used
to perform a measurement.

Single-shot measurements: When the key is pressed and
released immediately (a quick key stroke of less than 0.3
seconds), the display will blink [-Rd-] ten times and display
the measured value.

Continuous measurements: If the READ/ENTER key is
pressed and held, the instrument will perform a continuous
measurement during which the display is updated every
2 seconds. This can be used for indexing vials. (This
function is not available in calibration mode). After
the READ/ENTER key is released, the instrument will
automatically perform a single-shot measurement.

Active only during calibration mode. These scroll keys are
used to select the next calibration point.

Note: After the successful calibration of one point, the
meter automatically selects the next calibration point, or
automatically exits the calibration mode after the fourth
calibration point.

Figure 3

Keypad

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

5

Battery

Installation

Four AAA batteries are included in the carrying case.

Note: Use caution when loosening the screws, as some of the screws may
be tightly seated

1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to loosen the four screws holding the

battery cover. See Figure 4.
attached to the battery cover.

2. Remove the battery cover.

.

These captive screws will remain

Figure 4

Battery Installation

3. Insert the batteries. Follow the diagram inside the cover for

ect polarity.

corr

4. Replace the battery cover in its original position and tighten the four

screws removed earlier to secure the battery cover to the meter.

5. The meter is now ready for use.

Note: D

ispose of used batteries in accordance with your local regulations.

6 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Chapter 2 Turbidity Calibration

Calibration

Overview

Indexing

The AQ3010 turbidity meter was calibrated and tested prior to leaving
the factory. The meter kit includes a set of prepared primary standards
that can be used to verify the meter calibration daily and to recalibrate the

, if required. Before measuring samples for the first time, verify the

meter
meter calibration with the prepared primary standards.

The SDVB primary standards in the meter kit are in plastic bottles for
impr

oved precision and shelf life. Four vials are included and labeled for

each standard level.

The instrument includes a light shield cover to keep stray light from
changing the calibration and sample measur
environments, the light shield is not required. The vial cap keeps stray
light from entering the sample well, saving you many steps and reducing
analysis time

Due to the high quality of the glass vials provided, indexing is not
r

equired. You only need to align the mark on the vial with the mark
on the meter. However, in order to achieve a better precision of the
measurement, you can proceed with indexing of the vials. See the
Indexing a Vial section for mor

.

e information.

ement readings. In many

Calibration

Standards

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

We recommend that you use the following materials during calibration to
achieve the precision stated in this user guide:

•

CAL 1: 800 NTU calibration standard

• CAL 2: 100 NTU calibration standard

• CAL 3: 20.0 NTU calibration standard

• CAL 4: 0.02 NTU calibration standard

It is well known that diluted Formazin is unstable. If you choose to use
Formazin to calibrate the instrument, ensure that you are using a fresh
stock suspension of Formazin to achieve the precision quoted for the
instr

ument. It is very difficult to accurately pipet Formazin for low level
NTU standards, due to the non-homogeneous nature of Formazin and
because these standar
to use good laboratory technique and accurate Class A pipets and refer
to ASTM Method 6855-03 for low level standard vial preparation when
using F

ormazin.

ds have very limited stability at low levels. Be sure

7

The four bottles of calibration standards supplied with your meter are
more stable than Formazin, do not need to be shaken and have a shelf life
of 12 months
the instrument, review the expiration date (indicated on the bottle label)
to ensur

Note: It is important that the calibration standards are not violently
shaken or agitated because air entrapment in the fluid introduces an error
factor during calibration which subsequently will lead to an inaccurate
measurement. Also, do not store in freezing temperatures which
causes irreversible shrinkage of the standards’ particles thus resulting to
inaccurate calibration and measur

. If you use the supplied calibration standards to calibrate

e that the standards have not expired.

ement.

Preparing and

Filling the

Calibration

Standard

Vials

Before using the meter for the first time, rinse the inside of the vial with a
small amount of the same NTU standar

1. Gently pour about 5 mL of the standard into the vial.

2. Cap and swirl the vial so the inside of the vial is fully rinsed with
the standar

3. Pour the standard out of the vial.

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3.

5. Gently pour the standard into the vial up to the mark on the vial and
cap the vial.

6. Repeat this rinse and filling procedure for the other three vials.

Note: The vial rinsing is most critical for precision with the lower
NTU standar

It is recommended to use the prepared calibration standard vials daily as
check standar

d.

ds.

ds prior to the measurement of samples.

d that will be used to fill that vial.

8 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

“-Rd-” flashes about
10 times

CAL STD

100

NTU

Place standard
vial into the
sample well

NTU

READ

ENTER

Measurement Mode

Press key and
release immediately

100

Calibration

1. Place the AQ3010 turbidity meter on a flat and level surface.

Check

2. Insert the CAL 1 standard (800 NTU) into the sample well, aligning
the mark on the vial with the alignment mark on the meter.
See Figure 11.

3. Press down the vial until it slides fully into the instrument.

4. Cover the vial using the light shield cover, if necessary. For many
environments this is not required. The vial cap seals the sample well.

5. Press the

ON/OFF key to turn on the meter.

The meter goes to

measurement mode after the self test power-up sequence.

6. Press the

READ/ENTER key.

7. The meter will display the results. Record the reading.

8. Repeat the calibration check for CAL 2, CAL 3 and CAL 4
calibration standards.

9. If the displayed results are within 10% of the nominal NTU value of
the standard or the precision criteria required by your method, the
calibration check passed and the meter is no

w ready for measurement.

Figure 5

Calibration Check

Sequence

Note: If a standard no longer reads within 10% of the nominal NTU
v

alue for the standard, the standard has most likely degraded. The
lower level NTU standards will be less stable when stored in glass than
the higher NTU standar

ds. The lower level standards may need to be

replaced periodically, especially if the value falls outside of the tolerance

. See the Refilling the Calibration Standard Vials with Fresh

range
Standard section

.

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

9

Refilling the

1. Pour the old standard out of the vial.

Calibration

Standard

Vials with

Fresh

Standard

2. Wash the vial with laboratory glassware detergent and water. Rinse
the vial with turbidity-free water to remove all laboratory detergent
fr

om the vial.

3. Rinse the vial with about 5 mL of the standard from the plastic bottle
with the matching NTU value.

4. Cap and swirl the vial so the inside of the vial is fully rinsed with the
fresh standard.

5. Pour the standard out of the vial.

6. Pour the fresh standard into the vial up to the mark on the vial and
cap the vial.

7. Perform the procedure in the
containing the fresh standard.

If the fresh standard does not read with the 10% range of the nominal
value, or to the tolerance of your method, follow the steps in the

Calibration Procedure section.

Calibration Check section with the vial

10 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Calibration

Procedure

Note: Before switching on the AQ3010 turbidity meter, a sample vial

must be placed in the sample well. You can use any of the calibration
standards for this purpose. If a sample vial is not placed in the sample
well, the turbidity meter will display the Err 8 error message. To clear the
error message, power off the meter., insert a sample vial into the sample
well and power on the meter.

1. Place the AQ3010 turbidity meter on a flat and level surface.

2. Press the
measurement mode after the self test power-up sequence.

3. Select the calibration function of the instrument by pressing the
CAL key once
the meter will prompt for the first calibration standard by displaying
“CAL 1 800 NTU”

4. Insert the CAL 1 standard (800 NTU) into the sample well, aligning
the mark on the vial with the alignment mark on the meter.
See Figure 11.

5. Press down the vial until it slides fully into the instrument.

6. Cover the vial using the light shield cover, if necessary. For many
environments this is not required. The vial cap seals the sample well.

7. Press the

8. The “CAL 1 800 NTU” annunciator will blink for about 12 seconds
while the instrument performs the calibration of CAL 1 point.
When the instrument has completed calibration for this point, it will
prompt you to insert the next calibration standard into the sample
well by displaying “CAL 2 100 NTU”.

ON/OFF key to turn on the meter.

. The “CAL” annunciator will blink momentarily and

.

READ/ENTER key.

The meter goes to

9. Repeat steps 4 through 8 for the CAL 2, CAL 3 and CAL 4
calibration standards.

10. After you successfully calibrate the CAL 4 standard (0.02 NTU), the
meter will display “STbY”.

11. The meter is now ready for measurement.

Figure 6 sho

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

ws the complete calibration sequence.

11

Calibration

CAL 1

800 NTU

NTU

CA L 1

NTU

NTU

CAL 3

CA L 3

NTU

CAL 2

NTU

CA L 2

RE AD

EN TER

NTU

CA L 1

CA L

Pla ce t he C AL 1
sta ndar d int o the
sam ple wel l

Pla ce t he C AL 3
sta ndar d int o the
sam ple wel l

Fla shes abo ut 5 time s

Fla shes ab out 1 0 tim es

Fl ash es ab out 10 ti me s

Fla she s abo ut 1 0 tim es

Fla she s abo ut 1 0 tim es

CAL 4

CAL 3

20.0 NTU

0.02 NTU

NTU

NTU

CA L 4

CA L 4

RE AD

EN TER

RE AD

EN TER

Pla ce th e C AL 2
sta ndar d int o the
sa mple wel l

Pla ce t he C AL 4
sta ndar d int o the
sam ple wel l

Measurement Mode

CAL 2

100 NTU

RE AD

EN TER

Measurement Mode

Calibration saved

Notes

• To exit the calibration mode, press the CAL key at the end of any
step. The meter accepts only the values calibrated prior to exiting.

Figure 6

Calibration

Sequence

• You can skip a calibration point by pressing the

▲ or ▼ key and move

on to the next calibration point.

• After a successful calibration of one point, the meter automatically
selects the next calibration point. The meter automatically exits
calibration mode after the fourth calibration point.

• If an error occurs during calibration, the display shows an error
message. The meter aborts the calibration and returns to the
measurement mode without saving the last calibration value.

• For an error list, refer to the

Troubleshooting Guide section

.

12 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Restoring

Factory

Calibration

The AQ3010 turbidity meter allows you to reset the meter back to the
factory default calibration values. This feature is extremely useful when
there are errors in calibration or when you have new calibration standards.

1. With the meter switched off, press and hold the

▲ key.

2. Switch on the meter by pressing the ON/OFF key.
when “URST” (User-Reset) appears on the display.

3. The display will show “URST” for about 2 seconds and then “No”.

4. Use the

• YES = Restore the meter back to factory calibration values

• No = Retain the last calibrated values

5. Press the
performs the reset if “YES” is selected.

6. The display will flash “-Rd-” about ten times and the meter will go to
the measurement mode.

Figure 7 sho

▲ or ▼ key to scroll between “YES” or “No”.

READ/ENTER key to confirm y

ws the sequence for restoring factory calibration values.

our selection. The meter

Release the ▲ key

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

13

Figure 7

READ

ENTER

READ

ENTER

“-R d-” f lash es a bo ut 10 tim es

Se lect YE S an d

to res tore fact ory

ca libra tion

the n
pr ess
ke y

RE AD /ENT ER

Se lect No

to ret ain las t

ca lib ratio n v alue s

wi tho ut ret riev ing

fac tory ca libra tion

an d th en

pr ess

ke y

RE AD /EN TE R

Instrument Off

Measurement Mode

Pr es s & ho ld k ey and
sw itch on t he me ter u sing

ke yON /OF F

Re lea se key wh en y ou
se e ‘U RST ’ in the di spla y

Pr es s or key to

se lec t o r YE S No

Restoring Factory

Calibration

14 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Chapter 3 Turbidity Measurement

CA L 13 C AL 24

mg /l
NTU
ppm
%p H

TAvg

NTU

"-R d-” f las hes ab out 10

tim es ind icat ing tha t the

me ter g oes t o

m eas ure men t mo de.

A re adin g is val id o nly i f yo u h ave pla ced a

via l or a ny o f the cal ibra tion stan dar ds

pro vide d in to th e sa mp le we ll.Oth erwi se

the rea ding has no m ean ing o r an err or

me ssag e " Err 8" app ears .

Instrument Off

Pla ce a sam ple vial or a ny of th e

ca libra tion s tand ards pro vid ed i nto

the sam ple w ell of th e m ete r, be fore

sw itch on.

X.x

“X .X” is s oftw are r evisi on

nu mb er

Place light shield cap over vial.

General

Information

Figure 8

Power-up Sequence

The AQ3010 waterproof turbidity meter allows you to measure the
turbidity of a grab sample. The turbidity is reported in Nephelometric
Turbidity Units (NTU). Readings above 1000 NTU are outside the
range of this instrument.

Note: Before switching on the AQ3010 turbidity meter, a sample vial
must be placed in the sample w

ell. You can use any of the calibration

standards for this purpose.

The instrument includes a light shield cover to keep stray light from
changing the calibration and sample measur

ement readings. In many
environments, the light shield is not required. The vial cap keeps stray
light from entering the sample well, saving you many steps and reducing
analysis time

.

When the ON/OFF key is pressed to switch on the meter, it goes through
the power-up sequence as shown in Figure 8.

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

15

Turbidity

Measurement

Procedure

An accurate turbidity measurement depends on good measurement
techniques. Factors such as clean sample vials, positioning of vial in the
sample well, covering the vial with the light shield cover (if needed),
meter calibration, handling of meter and others have to be taken into
consideration
Appendix 2 Guide to Good Measurement Technique sections for more
information

. Refer to the Vials – Handling, Cleaning and Care and

.

Preparation of

Sample Vial

1. Obtain a clean and dry sample vial. See Figure 9.
handle the sample vial by the top cap.

2. Rinse the vial with approximately 10 mL of the sample water, capping
the vial with the black screw cap and gently inverting it several times.
Discard the used sample and repeat the rinsing procedure two times.

4. Fill the rinsed vial with the remaining portion (approximately 10 mL)
of the grab sample up to the mark indicated in the vial. Cap the vial
with the supplied black screw cap.

5. Wipe the vial with the soft, lint-free cloth supplied. Ensure that the
outside of the vial is dry, clean and free from smudges.

6. Apply a thin film of silicone oil (supplied) on the sample vial. See
Figure 10.

7. Wipe the vial with a soft cloth to obtain an even distribution over
the entire vial surface. The purpose of oiling the vial is to fill small
scratches and to mask the imperfection in the glass. Do not apply
large quantity of oil as this may collect dirt and dust.

Take care to

8. The sample vial is now ready to be inserted into the sample well of
the meter for measurement.

Figure 9

Sample Vial

16 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Figure 10

Align the alignment
mark on the sample
vial with the
alignment mark on
the AQ3010 turbidity
meter and push until
it is fully snapped in

Applying the Silicon Oil

Measurement

Procedure

Figure 11

Aligning the Sample

Vial Alignment Mark

with the Meter

Alignment Mark

1. Place the AQ3010 turbidity meter on a flat and level surface.

Note: Do not hold the meter in your hand while operating it, as this may
cause inaccurate measur

ements.

2. Place the sample vial inside the sample well and align the vial’s
alignment mark with the meter’s alignment mark. See Figure 11.

. Push the vial down until it slides fully in.

3

4. Cover the vial using the light shield cover, if necessary. For many
environments this is not required. The vial cap seals the sample well.

5. Turn on the meter by pressing the

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

ON/OFF key.

17

6. After the power-up sequence, the meter will go to the measurement

“-Rd-” flashes about
10 times

SAMPLE

Unknown

NTU

Place sample
vial into the
sample well

NTU

REA D

EN TE R

Measurement Mode

and cover with
the light shield cover,
if needed

mode and the display will blink “-Rd-” about ten times. See
Figure 12.

Figure 12

Reading a

Turbidity Value

. The measured reading will appear in the display.

7

8. If necessary, place the second sample vial into the sample well. Align
the vial alignment mark with the meter alignment mark.

Measurement Notes

9. Press the

READ/ENTER key.

The display will blink “-Rd-” several

times and measured reading will appear.

10. Repeat this procedure for all of your samples.

• Never pour liquid directly into the sample well of the instrument.
Always use a 25 mm vial. The instrument will only accurately
measure the turbidity of a sample when 25 mm vials sealed with the
black caps ar

e used. The black cap serves to both seal the vial and

block stray light.

• Never attempt to clean the sample well. The optics may be damaged.

• For battery conservation, the instrument automatically powers off 20
minutes after the last key pressed.

18 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Single-Shot

“-Rd-” flashes about
10 times

SAMPLE

Unknown

NTU

Place sample
vial into the
sample well

NTU

R EA D

EN TER

Measurement Mode

Press key and
release immediately

and cover with
the light shield
cap

or Continuous
Measurement

You can use the AQ3010 turbidity meter to take a single reading or
perform continuous measurement. The latter is only used for indexing
the vials. See the Indexing a Vial section for mor

e information.

For Single-Shot

Measurement

Figure 13

Single-Shot

Measurement

1. Make sure the meter is sitting on a flat and level surface and is in
measurement mode. The display will show the last measured value or
“STbY” after exiting calibration mode.

2. Place the sample vial in the sample well.

3. Cover the vial using the light shield cover, if necessary. For many
environments this is not required. The vial cap seals the sample well.

4. Press the
0

.3 seconds). See Figure 13.

READ/ENTER key and immediately release it (less than

5. The display will blink “-Rd-” about ten times and then display the
measured value.

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

19

For Continuous

Reading flashes and

updates every 2 seconds

SAMPLE

Unknown

NTU

Place sample
vial into the
sample well

NTU

R EA D

EN TER

Measurement Mode

Press key and hold

and cover with
the light shield
cap

Measurement

1. Make sure the meter is sitting on a flat and level surface and is in the
measurement mode. The display will show the last measured value or
“STbY”.

2. Place the sample vial in the sample well.

3. Cover the vial using the light shield cover, if necessary. For many
environments this is not required. The vial cap seals the sample well.

Figure 14

Continuous

Measurement

4. Press the

READ/ENTER key and hold it

. See Figure 14.

5. Wait for the reading to stabilize before rotating the sample vial. You
can rotate the sample vial for indexing purpose. See the
Vial section for mor

e information.

Indexing a

Note: During continuous measurement, the display is updated every

2 seconds

. The displayed reading may not be the actual turbidity

value. For accurate measurement, use the single-shot measurement.

6. Once you release the
per

forms a single-shot measurement.

READ/ENTER key, the meter automatically

20 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Continuous

Measurement

Notes

• After a measurement is completed and the display is updated, a 4
second recovery time occurs before the meter can perform another
function. If any key is pressed during this time, the meter will
perform the corresponding action at the end of the recovery period.

• When performing a measurement, if the meter detects stray light
exceeding the amount equivalent to 0.02 NTU in the low range, the
measurement is immediately aborted and an error message [ERR 8] is

ed. Ensure that the vial sits properly into the sample well and

display
the light shield cover is on. Press the ENTER/READ key to retake
the measurement.

Chapter 4 Routine Maintenance

The supplied carrying case is optimal for protecting the instrument. If
you do not plan on leaving the instrument in the supplied carrying case,
when it not in use ensure that the instrument has been turned off and
that a clean sample vial fitted with a black cap has been placed in the
sample w
will be able to settle on the optics of the instrument. Keep the light shield
cover with the meter.

ell. This will ensure that a minimal amount of dust and debris

Vials –

Handling,

Cleaning

and Care

Proper measurement of the turbidity of a sample requires the use of a
vial that is fr
Therefore, sample vials must be handled with absolute care to avoid
contamination or damage, which might change the optical characteristics
of the glass
vial or inside the sample well can cause stray light interference leading to
inaccurate r

Cleaning the vial is accomplished by washing the interior and exterior of
the vial in a detergent solution
thoroughly eight to ten times with clean distilled or deionized water to
eliminate the possibility of detergent buildup and str

Vials can also be acid washed periodically and coated with a special
silicone oil to fill small scratches and mask the imper
Since the silicone oil required for this application should have the same
refractive characteristics as glass, it is recommended that only the Thermo
Scientific O
Care should be taken not to apply excessive oil that could attract dirt or
contaminate the sample w
to the vial, the excess oil should be removed with a lint-free cloth. The
result should be a sample vial surface with a dry appearance, but with all
imper

ee of marks, smudges, scratches and any bacterial growth.

. Scratches, fingerprints and water droplets on the sample

eadings.

. Once cleaned, the vial should be rinsed

eaking.

fections in the glass.

rion AQUAfast® silicone oil, Cat. No. AC3SIL, be used.

ell of the meter. Once the oil has been applied

fections filled with oil.

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

21

Sample vials should always be handled from the top or by the cap to
avoid fingerprints or smudges. After a vial has been filled with a sample
and capped, the outside surface should be wiped with a clean, lint-

ee absorbent cloth until it is dry. Cleaned and dried vials should be

fr
stored with the black caps on. The vials can be stored in the carrying
case. During normal operation, you may use any typical laboratory glass
cleaner along with a lint free cloth or tissue to clean the outside of the
vials

.

Condensation may appear on the vial when your sample is very cold
and the r

elative air humidity is high. When this happens, the turbidity

that you read may be higher than the actual turbidity due to the light

ed by the condensate on the vial. If this occurs, you can alleviate

scatter
the problem by either coating the vial with an anti-fogging agent or by
running warm water over the vial for a short period of time to warm the
sample prior to measur

ement.

22 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Chapter 5 Customer Services

Troubleshooting

Guide

The AQ3010 turbidity meter routinely performs self-diagnostics and will
automatically generate messages to provide you with specific diagnostic
information

. These messages are for your use and do not indicate a
reduction in the performance of the instrument or a failure of any
component in the instr

LCD
Message

ERR 1

ERR 2

ERR 3

Description Corrective Actions

Calibration error – the meter is
unable to recognize the 800 NTU
calibration standard.

Calibration error – the meter is
unable to recognize the 100 NTU
calibration standard.

Calibration error – the meter is
unable to recognize the 20.0 NTU
calibration standard.

ument, unless otherwise stated in this list.

Use the correct 800 NTU
calibration standard. Pour fresh
standard into a clean vial and retry
the calibration. Verify that the
standard has not expired.

Use the correct 100 NTU
calibration standard. Pour fresh
standard into a clean vial and retry
the calibration. Verify that the
standard has not expired.

Use the correct 20.0 NTU
calibration standard. Pour fresh
standard into a clean vial and retry
the calibration. Verify that the
standard has not expired.

Calibration error – the meter is
unable to recognize the 0.02 NTU

ERR 4

ERR 5

ERR 6

ERR 7

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

calibration standard.

Calibration error – there is not
sufficient signal to achieve the
appropriate resolution in the 0 to
1000 NTU range.

General calibration failure – there
is not sufficient signal to achieve
the appropriate resolution in the 0
to 100 NTU range.

General calibration failure – there
is not sufficient signal to achieve
the appropriate resolution in the 0
to 20 NTU range.

Use the correct 0.02 NTU
calibration standard. Pour fresh
standard into a clean vial and retry
the calibration. Verify that the
standard has not expired.

Pour fresh standard into a clean
vial and retry the calibration with
all four standards. Verify that the
standards have not expired.

Pour fresh standard into a clean
vial and retry the calibration with
all four standards. Verify that the
standards have not expired.

Pour fresh standard into a clean
vial and retry the calibration with
all four standards. Verify that the
standards have not expired.

23

LCD
Message

ERR 8

ERR 9 Lamp failure. Contact Technical Support.

Description Corrective Actions

Excessive stray light detected. Verify that the vial is fully in the

sample well and light shield cover
is properly placed over the vial.

Attempting a measurement when
low battery indicator is on.

Replace the batteries.

Assistance

Warranty

Or

Turbidity value is above the
measurement range (>1000 NTU).

Low battery indication – the
batteries need to be replaced.

Dilute sample, see the Dilution
section.

Replace the batteries.

Note: If an error message appears, take the
appropriate corrective action and re-do the

ed procedure. If the problem persists,

desir
contact Technical Support or your dealer.

After troubleshooting all components of your measurement system,
contact

Technical Support. Within the United States call 1.800.225.1480
and outside the United States call 978.232.6000 or fax [phone].
In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, contact your local authorized

For the most current contact information, visit

dealer.

thermo.com/contactwater.

www.

For the most current warranty information, visit www.

thermo.com/water.

The AQ3010 meter is supplied with a 3 year warranty from
manufacturing defects and calibration standar

ds for 6 months. If
repair or adjustment is necessary and has not been the result of abuse or
misuse within the designated period, please contact Technical Support

our dealer for an RMT number. A repair technician will determine

or y
if the product problem is due to deviations or customer misuse. Out of
warranty products will be repaired on a charged basis.

Exclusions

The instrument warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from:

Improper or inadequate maintenance by customer

•

• Unauthorized modification or misuse

• Operation outside of the environment specifications of the products

Waterproof Seal: Opening the instrument enclosure (excluding the

y compartment) may void the warranty.

batter

24 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Notice of

Compliance

Warning: This meter may radiate radio frequency energy and if

not installed and used properly, that is in strict accordance with
the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio
communications
for a Class A computing device pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC
Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such

ference in a commercial environment. Operation of the meter in a

inter
residential area may cause interference in which case the user at his own
expense will be required to take whatever measures may be required to

ect the interference.

corr

The Thermo Scientific Orion AQ3010 turbidity meter is CE and
cTUVus certified, which includes TUV 3-in-1 testing to EMC and US
and Canadian standar

. It has been tested and found to comply with the limits

ds.

WEEE

Compliance

This product is required to comply with the European Union’s Waste
E

lectrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC. It

is marked with the following symbol:

We have contracted with one or more recycling/disposal companies in
each EU Member State and this product should be disposed of or recycled

ough them. Further information on compliance with these Directives,

thr
the recyclers in your country, and information on Thermo Scientific
Orion products which may assist the detection of substances subject to

oHS Directive are available at www.thermo.com/WEEERoHS.

the R

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

25

Declaration of

Conformity

Manufacturer: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

166 Cummings Center
Beverly, MA 01915 USA

The manufacturer hereby declares that the AQ3010 turbidity meter
conforms with the following standards and documents:

Safety EN/IEC 61010-1:2001

EMC EC 89/336/EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility

EN 61326-1:2006

Emissions EN 61326-1:2006 Emissions

CISPR 11:2003 Radiated Emissions
FCC Part 15B Class A

Immunity

This Thermo Scientific Orion product has been manufactured in
compliance with the provisions of the relevant manufacturing and test
documents and pr
as complying with ISO 9001:2008 by QMI, listed as File # 001911.

Patrick Chiu June 3, 2009
Senior Quality Engineer, Beverly, MA
Regulatory Compliance

EN 61326-1:2006 Immunity
IEC 61000-4-2:2001 Electrostatic Discharge

Immunity

IEC 61000-4-3:2002 RF Radiated I

ocesses. These documents and processes are recognized

mmunity

26 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Ordering

Cat. No. Description

Information

AQ3010 AQ3010 waterproof portable turbidity meter with set of 4 calibration

standards (800, 100, 20.0 and 0.02 NTU) in plastic bottles, set of 4
calibration vials, set of 3 sample vials, lint-free cloth, silicone oil, vial
cleaning brush, batteries and rugged carrying case

AC301S

AC3V25 Replacement sample vials, pack of 3, 25 mm diameter

AC3SIL Silicone oil, 10 mL bottle, and lint-free cloth

AC3CBR Replacement vial cleaning brush

Replacement calibration standards kit, includes 800, 100, 20.0 and 0.02
NTU standards in plastic bottles

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

27

Specifications

Parameter Specification

Measurement Method ISO 7027 compliant nephelometric

method (90°)

Measurement Range 0 to 1000 NTU

Automatic Range Selection 0.01 to 19.99 NTU

20.0 to 99.9 NTU
100 to 1000 NTU

Resolution 0.01 NTU (0 to 19.99 NTU)

0.1 NTU (20 to 99.9 NTU)
1 NTU (100 to 1000 NTU)

Precision ±2% of reading ± 1 LSD for 0 to 500 NTU;

±3% of reading ± 1 LSD for 501 to 1000 NTU

Calibration Standards 0.02 NTU, 20 NTU, 100 NTU, 800 NTU

Standardization EPA approved polymer-based primary

standards

Light Source Infrared-emitting diode (850 nm wavelength)

Light Source Life > 1,000,000 tests

Detector Silicon photovoltaic

Stray Light < 0.02 NTU

Display 4 digit 14 segments customized liquid crystal

display with annunciators

Sample Vials (Cuvettes) Glass vials with screw caps, fill line and

indexing mark, 51 (H) x 25 (Dia) mm ( 2 x 1 in)

Sample Volume Required 10 mL (0.33 oz)

Operating Temperature Range 0 °C to 50 °C (32 °F to 122 °F)

Sample Temperature Range 0 °C to 50 °C (32 °F to 122 °F)

Operating Humidity Range 0 to 90% relative humidity,

non-condensing at 30 °C (86 °F)

Power Supply 4 x AAA alkaline batteries

Battery Life > 1200 readings

Enclosure Type ABS plastic

Waterproof Rating: IP67

Regulatory Certification CE, cTUVus, TUV 3-in-1, FCC part 15

Insulation Rating Pollution Degree 2

Weight: Meter: 0.23 kg (0.51 lb)

Meter with case: 2.0 kg (4.4 lb)

Dimensions Meter:

7.9 (W) x 17.2 (L) x 5.0 (H) cm
(3.1 x 6.8 x 2.0 in)

Meter & case:

35 (W) x 27 (L) x 15 (H) cm
(13.8 x 10.6 x 5.9 in)

28 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Appendix 1 Turbidity Theory

Definition

Why Is It

Important?

Turbidity is defined as an “expression of the optical property that causes
light to be scattered and absorbed rather than transmitted in straight lines

ough the sample.” That is, turbidity is the measure of relative sample

thr
clarity, not color.

Water with cloudy or opaque appearance will have high turbidity, while
water that is clear or translucent will hav
value is caused by particles such as silt, clay, microorganisms and organic

By definition, turbidity is not a direct measure of these particles

matter.
but rather a measure of how these particles scatter light.

For drinking water applications, a turbidity value may give an indication
of presence of bacteria, pathogens or particles that can shelter harmful
organisms fr
is particularly useful for water treatment plants to ensure cleanliness. For
wastewater effluent testing, turbidity is often required to ensure that the
r

eleased effluent will not harm the environment.

In industrial processes, turbidity can be part of quality control measure to
ensur

om disinfection process. Therefore, turbidity measurement

e efficiency in treatment or manufacturing process.

e low turbidity. High turbidity

Measurement

Principle

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

There are two internationally accepted standard specifications for
turbidity measur
and the US EPA method 180.1.

Basically the ISO 7027 is a more stringent standard and requires the use
of a monochr
meter in the following areas: (1) Light source’s wavelength; (2) Light
sources’ spectral bandwidth; (3) Measuring angle; (4) Aperture angle in
water sample; (5) Distance traversed by incident light and scattered light
within the sample and (6) Calibration standar

The AQ3010 turbidity meter follows the ISO 7027 standard whose
specification allows for greater reproducibility of the measured values and
gr

eater agreement between other measuring instruments.

ement. These are the international standard ISO 7027

omatic light source. It also governs the design of a turbidity

d.

29

Figure 15

90°

Lens

Glass Sample Vial

Transmitted

Light

Scattered Light

Lamp

Basic

Nephelometric

Arrangement

for Turbidity

Measurement

Figure 15 shows the AQ3010 waterproof turbidity meter basic optical
system. It includes a light source and a detector to monitor the light
scattered at 90° with respect to the incident beam.

Nephelometric

Turbidity Units

(NTU)

Indexing a

Vial

Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU): Unit of measure used when
relating the light scattered by a liquid media to the light scattered by a
known concentration of a standard solution. This unit of measure is
recognized as a measure of the optical clarity of an aqueous sample. NTU
is the accepted unit of measurement for turbidity.

Another unit commonly used to measure turbidity is Formazin Turbidity
Unit (FTU). The two units of measure of turbidity are equivalent:
1 NTU = 1 FTU

.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
recommends that vials used for turbidity meter calibration or sample
measur

ement be indexed.

To index a sample vial, slowly rotate the vial throughout one complete
r

evolution (360°). While rotating the sample vial, observe the display and

locate the position that the vial is in which provides the lowest turbidity

eading. This position is the indexed position of the vial.

r

Mark this position on the vial (not on the cap) against the mark on
the meter.

After indexing a vial, make sure the vial will always be placed inside the
sample w

30 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

ell in the indexed position.

Appendix 2 Guide to Good

Measurement Technique

Turbidity is a very complex analytical measurement that can be affected
by many factors. Some are inherent in the instrument’s design such as
angle of detection, light beam aperture, incident beam wavelength and
color sensitivity of the photocell

However, there are other factors such as stray light, air bubbles and care
of vial, which can be prevented through proper care of equipment and
accessories, and in the operating pr
some points you may want to note.

.

ocedure for measurement. Here are

Maintain

Sample Vials

in Good

Condition

Match

Sample Vials

Sample vials must be meticulously clean and free from significant
scratches
silicone oil. This is to mask minor imperfections and scratches that may
contribute to stray light. Sample vials should be handled only by the
top to avoid dirt accumulation (or deposits) and fingerprints that might
inter

More information can be found in the Vials – Handling, Cleaning and
Care section

Best precision and repeatability of turbidity measurement are achieved
using a single, index
vials can be used for measurement provided their readings with the same
solution ar
the specified repeatability and precision of the meter.

Select a few vials. After the sample vials are cleaned, fill them with ultra­low turbidity water. Allow the sample vials to stand and for air bubbles to
rise. Polish sample vials with silicone oil and take turbidity measurement
at several points while rotating it in the sample well. Find the position
where turbidity reading is the lowest and index it for each vial. Whenever
these sample vials are used, use the indexed mark to position each vial
into the sample w

. It should be treated on the outside with a thin coat of

fere with the light path.

.

ed vial. However, for more convenience, different

e matched. That is, the meter gives identical readings or within

ell. Choose those vials that match the readings.

Not all vials can be matched due to some manufacturing variations.

Note:

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

31

Degassing

Air or other trapped gases should be removed before measurement.
Degassing is recommended even if no bubbles are visible. There are three
methods commonly used for degassing:

Addition of a surfactant: This involves adding a surfactant to the

•
water samples to lower the surface tension of the water, thereby
r

eleasing trapped gasses.

• Application of a partial vacuum: A partial vacuum can be created by
using simple syringe or vacuum pump. This is only recommended
for ultra-low turbidity measurements.

• Use of an ultrasonic bath: This may be effective in severe conditions
or in viscous samples, but not recommended for ultra-low
measur

Each of the method above has its own advantages and disadvantages. For
instance, under certain sample conditions, the use of vacuum pump or
ultrasonic bath may actually incr

ements.

ease the presence of gas bubbles.

Timeliness

of Sample

Measurement

Samples should be measured immediately to prevent changes in particle
characteristics due to temperatur
affect particles by changing their behavior or creating new particles if

ecipitates are formed. Dilution water may dissolve particles or change

pr
their characteristics. It is recommended to take samples only when the
turbidity meter is ready to be operated. Samples should not be drawn
and allowed to sit while the instrument warms up or is being readied.

e and settling. Temperature can

32 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

Other

Important

Sampling

Techniques

1. Samples should not be violently shaken or agitated as particles can be
broken apart or air may be entrapped into the fluid. Gentle agitation
such as swirling the sample vial is advisable to reduce particle settling.

2. Sample vials should be used only with the instruments for which they
were intended. Do not mix and match vials. The AQ3010 uses 25
mm sample vials.

3. Perform a visual observation of the sample vial every time a
measurement is made. Ensure that there are no visible bubbles in the
sample and the vial is clean and free of scratches.

4. Samples entering the turbidity meter should be at the same
temperature as the process flow samples. Changes in temperature can
cause precipitation of soluble compounds and affect readings.

5. Sample vials should be evaluated with a low turbidity water
(after cleaning) to determine if cells remain matched. If the
evaluation determines that a cell is corrupted, discard the vial. It is
recommended to conduct this evaluation weekly.

6. When in doubt about whether a sample vial is too scratched or
stained, throw it away.

Calibration

Techniques

1. Keep the calibration standard plastic bottles and vials tightly capped
and ensure that they are not allowed to freeze.

2. Check that the standards have not expired.

3. Make sure that the calibration vials are free of dust, smudges and
scratches before use.

4. Conduct the calibration in the same manner each time. Variations
in how the calibration is performed could yield inaccurate
measur

5. It is very important that the users who perform calibration have been
trained to do so. Creating a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for
the users to read, learn, and practice may help to ensure precision.

ements.

Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

33

Dilution

Techniques

This dilution procedure is necessary only when your turbidity
measurement is above 1000 NTU.

1. To measure the turbidity above 1000 NTU, dilute the sample with
turbidity-free water.

2. Turbidity-free water can be obtained by filtering deionized water
through a < 0.2 μm filter membrane with precision-sized pores.

3. Measure the volume of the sample (V

) before dilution and record the

s

value in mL.

4. Take a known volume (V

) of dilution water and add it to the

d

sample.

5. Pour 10 mL of the diluted sample in a clean vial and measure the
turbidity of the diluted sample. Record this value in NTU (T

).

d

6. Calculate the true turbidity (T) of the original sample in NTU using
the following formula:

T =

• (Vs + Vd) / V

T

d

s

Example:

• Dilute 20 mL of the original sample (with turbidity above 1000
NTU) with 50 mL of dilution water.

• Measure the turbidity of the diluted sample.

• If the reading is 300 NTU, the turbidity of the original sample is
1050 NTU.

• In this example Td = 300 NTU, Vs = 20 mL, Vd = 50 mL,

T = 300 • (20+50) / 20 = 300 • 70/20 = 21000/20 = 1050.

so

34 Thermo Scientific Orion AQUAfast AQ3010 Turbidity Meter User Guide

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