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Optical Brighteners
Overview
Optical Brighteners (OBAs)
are primarily added to laundry soaps, detergents, and cleaning agents
for the purpose of brightening fabrics and/or surfaces. Laundry
wastewater is the largest contributor of OBAs to wastewater systems
because it retains a large portion of dissolved OBAs. Water municipalities
and researchers are evaluating OBA concentrations in lakes, rivers,
and coastal ocean to determine the efficiency of wastewater treatment
protocols and wastewater systems. When wastewater systems fail,
human waste leaks into natural aquatic systems and might cause an
increase in fecal coliform bacteria, which may impact ecosystems.
In an effort to determine source
contaminations, researchers are correlating fluorescence of OBAs
to bacterial levels. These studies may help decrease this type of
anthropogenic input. Turner Designs currently manufactures fluorometers
that detect OBAs, such as the 10-AU
and Aquafluor Handheld
fluorometer, which have been used in studies conducted by county
health departments and water municipalities. Turner Designs has
now developed a submersible in situ fluorometer for detection of
OBAs, the UV Cyclops-7
that further facilitates sample analysis.
- (S-0080)
Optical Brighteners
- (S-0101)
Optical Brightener Module for Trilogy Laboratory Fluorometer
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