The PAI AMX is an online ammonium (NH₄⁺/NH₃) analyzer for cooling water, industrial wastewater and wastewater treatment plants. It strips ammonia from the sample and measures it by conductivity, covering a range from below 10 ppb to more than 10,000 ppm without reagents that age. Akan Industrial and Automation supplies the AMX in Türkiye and supports sample system design, installation and commissioning.
Why monitor ammonium in water?
In nature, ammonium occurs only in trace amounts produced by biological activity. Its general toxicity is low, but it is a serious threat to fish. Industrial sites therefore monitor ammonium continuously in cooling water and effluent, and wastewater treatment plants monitor it to control nitrification and meet discharge limits.
How the AMX ammonium analyzer works
- The sample enters a stripper, where sodium hydroxide raises the pH to 14.
- At this pH, the NH₃/NH₄⁺ equilibrium shifts to neutral ammonia, which is stripped from the sample.
- The ammonia is absorbed in a conductivity cell filled with deionized water.
- The concentration is calculated from the conductivity increase after a preset time.
- Before each measurement, an ion exchanger regenerates the deionized water.
Because the measurement takes place in clean deionized water rather than in the sample itself, particles, turbidity and colour do not interfere. The method shows almost no drift, so calibration is only needed at long intervals.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Measuring range | < 10 ppb to > 10,000 ppm, depending on configuration |
| Detection limit | < 10 ppb (configuration dependent) |
| Measuring interval | 5–10 min typical; 30 s response version available |
| Sample temperature | 0–30 °C |
| Power supply | 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, 50 W |
| Analog output | 4–20 mA (0–20 mA) |
| Alarm contacts | System fault, maintenance request (NC/NO); threshold (NC/NO, optional) |
| Display | 4” colour touch panel |
| Housing | Powder-coated steel (electronics), plastic (hydraulics) |
| Protection class | IP54 |
| Ambient conditions | +5 to +40 °C; < 95 % RH, non-condensing |
| Dimensions (H × D × W) | 910 × 300 × 480 mm |
| Weight | approx. 30 kg |
Maintenance and cost of ownership
- Maintenance downtime is only a few hours per year.
- All parts are easy to reach and can be replaced in minutes; routine maintenance is done by the user.
- The ion exchangers in the ultrapure water circuit last several months; resin consumption is about 1 litre per year.
- An automatic cleaning system cleans the stripper at user-adjustable intervals.
Options
- Automatic calibration and validation
- Multiplexer for up to 8 channels
- Audit trail
- Modbus TCP and Profibus communication
- Sm@rt Server remote access
Why choose Akan for ammonium monitoring?
Akan’s analyzer engineering team covers the full scope around the instrument: analyzer specification, sample system design from sample tap to analyzer, shelter or cabinet integration, DCS interfacing, FAT/SAT and start-up support. See our analytical instrumentation services and online analyzer systems, or compare with the PAITOC TOC analyzer for organic load monitoring.
