STRATHKELVIN INSTRUMENTS - SCOTLAND

Strathkelvin Instruments was founded in 1981, to develop instruments based upon precision dissolved oxygen measurement, for use in the biomedical research field. This remains a significant part of the company’s instrumentation range.

In 1998, the opportunity arose to exploit the technology of a respirometer designed for biomedical research, for use in activated sludge respirometry. Initially the respirometry product development was directed towards toxicity testing, since there was no method anywhere in the world that would measure and calculate toxicity of wastewater to the actual activated sludge of the receiving works, in as little as 5-10 mins. Subsequently it became clear that, since respirometry is one of the 3 major processes in biological treatment (biodegradation, growth and respiration), by adding additional software, the respirometer could be used as a major tool in process control in treatment works.