Flourometric Dye Tracing

• Field Fluorometer - Model 6700
• Bright Dyes - Fluorescent Water Tracing Dyes
• Ultraviolet Lights - For Fluorescent Dye Tracers

The use of fluorescent dyes and tracing techniques provides a means of measuring the time of travel of solutes in steady and gradually varied flow in streams. This information is needed to determine time of travel for use in water-quality models and to define relations so that transient water-quality problems and waste transport studies can predict the time of arrival and passage time of a hazardous substance released or spilled upstream. Time of travel refers to the movement of water or waterborne solutes from point to point in a stream during steady or gradually varied flow conditions. The measurement or simulation of time of travel using dye tracers involves the slug injection of a dye at some location along the stream and the measurement of the resulting response, or dye cloud, at other locations downstream. When a fluorescent dye is used as a tracer, the degree of fluorescence can be determined with a fluorometer. The Model 6700 fluorometer has been designed based on field and research requirements and particularly fulfills the need for automatic and real-time on-line monitoring of dye tracer concentrations. The 6700 has been fully tested under field conditions by hydrology professionals over the past 8 years. A double-excitation, double-detection optical scheme permits simultaneous concentration measurements of two different dye tracers and water turbidity. Although the optical filter set is selected for the dye tracer pair uranine-sulforhodamine G, other dyes can be detected. Thanks to a very favorable separation of their characteristics in the visible spectrum, uranine and sulforhodamine G tracers can be used simultaneously at two different injection sites. The instrument can recover the two overlapping tracing curves with small mutual interaction of the dyes. Real-time measurement of the turbidity in the range of 0.02 to 400 nephelometric units is also of great interest. A flow-through field fluorometer can be put into water of widely varying quality to measure very small dye concentrations (0.05 ppb). The fluorometer replaces out-dated and frequently impractical mechanical sampling systems. There are two 6700 existing fluorometer models. Both are convenient for direct immersion in surface waters and require no pump. In addition, the surface model is also well suited for fast analysis of individual water samples. The downhole groundwater model can be used in 3" diameter boreholes to a depth of 160ft. (50 m.) Unattended measurements with a high sampling frequency can extend over weeks instead of the daily or hourly sampling of mechanical systems.

 

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Visible fluorescent dyes make waterflow patterns easy to see and track. Ecologically safe dyes for use in stream tracing, lake studies, flow mapping, time of travel surveys, pollution studies and leak detection. Two formulations: FWT Red, a specially formulated version of the dye Rhodamine WT and FLT Yellow/Green, which is a formulated version of the dye Fluorescein. Fluorescent colors can be detected visually in most water conditions or with the use of ultra-violet light or a fluorometer. Fluorescent dyes are temporary and will degrade naturally in sunlight, 2-3 days for red and 5-7 days for Yellow/Green, or with the addition of chlorine. FLT Yellow/Green is resistant to absorption in organic matter and should be used in water with heavy sediment loads. Available in tablets, cake or liquid.            

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Two models of standard A/C or battery-operated ultraviolet lights for identifying dye tracers are available. The handheld, Raytector S-2 12W Longwave/Shortwave Lamp features a wraparound handle designed for comfortable balance. Rugged ABS plastic and fingertip switches. Its Rechargeable Double Lamp has two 6W lamps and operates from internal gel-based, lead-acid battery. Recharges with AC power. Toggle switch selects longwave or shortwave separately or both at same time. The Versalume light is a lightweight compact unit that uses four AA batteries or 115 VAC adapter. This is a 4 watt lamp and is small enough to fit in your pocket with the fold up dual purpose handle. It weighs one pound and comes with a combination longwave/ short wave bulb.            

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