Understanding Oil-in-Water Instrument Specifications

17 February 2011 by Turner Designs Hydrocarbon Instruments

The measurement capabilities of oil-in-water analysis methods are described by several analytical figures-of-merit; for example, range (linear and dynamic), limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision (repeatability and reproducibility), sensitivity, accuracy, and response time. Some or all of these are often specified by customers in the bid packages issued when selecting a grab-sample method or a continuous oil-in-water monitor.

In this paper, Dale F. Brost, PhD, of Turner Designs Hydrocarbon Instruments, attempts to clarify the definitions of the most frequently specified figures-of-merit. He also presents a discussion of how they should be interpreted, and introduces the concept of capability ratio (CR), a well-established six-sigma tool, as a measure of the ability of an analysis method to monitor the oil-in-water content of a specific water process.

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