Measuring wastewater quality using a sensor array: prospects for real-time monitoring

The application of using a chemical sensor array to analyse the headspace gas generated from a sparged sample was evaluated. Wastewater samples were sparged with N-2 gas in a temperature controlled flow-cell, the headspace gas was then supplied (using a temperature controlled transfer line) to the sensor array for analysis by 12 polypyrrole sensors. Multivariate analysis of the sensor array data (using principal component and multiple discriminant analysis) showed that the different sample types (RO water, raw sewage and final effluent) were separated into distinct clusters. These results demonstrate that the sensor array analysis of an externally generated headspace gas can be used to monitor for changes in wastewater; quality and could provide a simple non-invasive technique for real-time wastewater monitoring.