Na-100 Sodium Ion-Selective Electrode

Overview

The Na-100 is a precision ion-selective electrode specifically designed for measuring sodium (Na⁺) concentration in water. Sodium monitoring is critical for water softening operations, desalination plant efficiency, food and beverage processing, and environmental water quality assessment. This sensor provides fast, accurate measurements essential for process control and regulatory compliance.

Key Features

• High Selectivity: Specifically designed for sodium ion detection
• Wide Range: Measures from 0.2 to 23,000 mg/L (ppm)
• Digital Output: RS485 Modbus RTU for seamless integration with SCADA and IoT systems
• Fast Response: Results within 30 seconds
• Automatic Temperature Compensation: Integrated PT1000 sensor for accurate readings
• Direct Connection: Connect directly to computer or PLC without additional instrumentation
• High Protection: IP68 waterproof rating ensures reliable operation

Applications

• Water softener regeneration monitoring
• Desalination plant process control
• Drinking water quality testing
• Food and beverage processing
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Boiler feedwater monitoring
• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Environmental water monitoring
• Salt intrusion detection
• Agricultural irrigation water assessment

Technical Specifications

The Na-100 delivers precise sodium measurements from 0.2 to 23,000 mg/L with automatic temperature compensation via the integrated PT1000 sensor. The ion-selective membrane provides exceptional selectivity for sodium ions, making it ideal for monitoring in complex water matrices.

Understanding Sodium in Water

Sodium plays various important roles in water systems:

Drinking Water

• Taste Threshold: > 200 mg/L can be detected by taste
• EPA Secondary Standard: 30-60 mg/L guideline for taste
• Health: Important for people on sodium-restricted diets
• Corrosion: Can affect pipe corrosion rates

Water Softening

• Softener Monitoring: Tracking sodium from ion exchange
• Regeneration Control: Optimizing salt usage
• Effluent Quality: Meeting sodium discharge limits
• Efficiency: Determining softener breakthrough

Industrial Applications

• Boiler Water: Monitoring sodium for corrosion control
• Food Processing: Critical for product sodium content
• Pharmaceutical: Meeting purity specifications
• Desalination: Process efficiency monitoring

Typical Sodium Levels

• Natural freshwater: 5-50 mg/L
• Drinking water: 20-100 mg/L
• Softened water: 50-400 mg/L (depends on hardness removed)
• Brackish water: 1,000-10,000 mg/L
• Seawater: ~10,800 mg/L
• Industrial process water: Variable

Water Softening Monitoring

The Na-100 is essential for water softening systems:

• Softener Efficiency: Monitoring sodium breakthrough
• Regeneration Timing: Optimizing regeneration cycles
• Discharge Compliance: Meeting effluent limits
• Cost Optimization: Reducing salt consumption

Environmental Monitoring

Sodium monitoring is important for:

• Salt Intrusion: Detecting saltwater contamination in freshwater
• Road Salt Impact: Tracking de-icing salt in surface water
• Agricultural Drainage: Monitoring irrigation water quality
• Groundwater Quality: Assessing aquifer contamination

Connectivity and Integration

The Na-100 supports dual output for integration into water treatment and desalination systems:

RS485 Modbus RTU:

• Connect to Agrinovo Omni Genesis or Exodus controllers for cloud-based sodium monitoring
• Multi-drop bus networking (up to 32 sensors per bus)
• Standard Modbus registers for Na⁺ concentration and temperature
• Compatible with SCADA, PLC, water softener controllers, and desalination systems

RS485 Modbus RTU Output:

• Direct connection to softener regeneration controllers
• Scalable output range mapped to measurement range
• Ideal for sodium breakthrough detection and regeneration triggering

Installation and Maintenance

Positioning: For water softener monitoring, install downstream of the softener outlet to detect sodium breakthrough. For desalination, install on the permeate line to verify membrane performance. In food processing, install at critical control points.

Calibration: Two-point calibration using NaCl standard solutions. For water softening, calibrate at 50 mg/L and 500 mg/L. For desalination monitoring, use lower range standards. Recalibrate every 2-4 weeks.

Glass Electrode Care: The sodium ISE uses a specialty glass membrane. Avoid mechanical abrasion during cleaning. Condition new sensors in 0.1 M NaCl for 24 hours before first use for optimal response.

Complementary Monitoring

Sodium monitoring is often combined with:

• Chloride (Cl⁻): For total salt content
• Calcium (Ca²⁺): For water hardness
• Conductivity: For total dissolved solids
• pH: For overall water quality