correlation between silica and conductivity 1

[Fritzfrederix]

Hi there,

Is there a correlation between silica and conductivity of demiwater?
What kind of measurement/vendors are there for silica measurement?

Bey

 

[hydrae]

Bey
Hach (

http://www.hach.com)

has laboratory, portable, test kits and online analyis for silica
Hydrea

 

[AUSLK]

I don't beleive there is any direct correlation between silica and conductivity. Conductivity measures the ionic content of the water whereas silca is either colliodal, dissolved or in suspension and not ionically charged, thus not contributing to the conductivity value. Typically you need to measure both individually.

 

[GarySCWSVI]

Silica does not conduct electricity therefore it only affects conductivity when monitoring conductivity after an ion exchange demineralizer. You will see a spike in conductivity when silica starts to breakthrough. This because as silica breaksthrough it opens exchange sites on the resin for other conductivity affecting ions to load on the resin. This spike is used by some industries to warn that silica has broken through. Usually by those that do not have a Silica Monitor on line. That spike is difficult to detect unless you have a Chart Recorder or a Conductivity Controller in use.