Process and apparatus for the detection of toxicity in surface waters as well as drinking water and industrial water

An apparatus for the detection of toxicity in water, comprising:

• a light source for light-stimulating water containing a toxicity-sensitive bioorganism;
• as first fluorescence measuring means for measuring prompt fluorescence of the light-stimulated water, said first measuring means having means for producing a signal output value corresponding to the measured intensity of prompt fluorescence;
• a second fluorescence measuring means for measuring retarded fluorescence of the water, said second measuring means having means for producing a signal output value corresponding to the measured intensity of retarded fluorescence;
• and
• a programmable common signal correlation means connected to said first and second fluorescence measuring means for receiving said signal output value corresponding to the measured intensity of prompt fluorescence and said signal output value corresponding to the measured intensity of retarded fluorescence, for correlating said signal output value corresponding to the measured intensity of prompt fluorescence with said signal output value corresponding to the measured intensity of delayed fluorescence to obtain a correlated sample value, and for providing an indication of said correlated sample value compared with a correlated sample value obtained from a non-contaminated sample, as a measure of the toxicity level of said light-stimulated water.

An apparatus for the detection of toxicity in water, comprising:

• a light source for light-stimulating water containing a toxicity-sensitive bioorganism;
• a fluorescence measuring means
• for measuring prompt fluorescence of the light-stimulated water and producing a first signal output value corresponding to the measured intensity of prompt fluorescence, and
• for subsequently measuring retarded fluorescence of the light-stimulated water and producing a second signal output value corresponding to the measured intensity of retarded fluorescence;
• and
• a programmable signal correlation means connected to said fluorescence measuring means
• for receiving sequentially said first and second signal output values,
• for correlating said received first and second signal output values to obtain a correlated sample value, and
• for providing an indication of said correlated sample value compared with a correlated sample value obtained from a noncontaminated sample, as a measure of the toxicity level of said light-stimulated water.