YSI 9300 Photometer User Manual
Page 53
 
PHOTOMETER TEST INSTRUCTIONS
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Chlorine and chlorine-release compounds are widely used for the disinfection of 
drinking water and swimming pools, for the control of micro-biological growth in 
cooling water, and in many other water treatment systems. Accurate 
measurement of the chlorine residual is an essential aspect of the control of these 
chlorination processes. 
The chlorine level can be expressed in terms of the free chlorine, combined 
chlorine or total chlorine residuals. For the majority of applications measurement 
of the free chlorine residual is the most important. This test method provides a 
simple means of measuring total chlorine residuals over the range 0 - 5 mg/l. 
 
Method 
This YSI chlorine test uses the DPD method developed by Dr A T Palin and now 
internationally recognized as the standard method of testing for chlorine and 
other disinfectant residuals. In the YSI DPD method the reagents are provided 
in tablet form for maximum convenience and simplicity of use. 
Free chlorine reacts with diethyl-p-phenylene diamine (DPD) in buffered solution 
to produce a pink coloration. The intensity of the color is proportional to the free 
chlorine concentration. Subsequent addition of excess potassium iodide induces 
a further reaction with any combined chlorine present. The color intensity is now 
proportional to the total chlorine concentration; the increase in intensity repre-
sents the combined chlorine concentration. In this way it is possible to 
differentiate between free and combined chlorine present in the sample. The 
color intensities are measured using a YSI Photometer.
REAGENTS AND EQUIPMENT 
YSI DPD No 4 Tablets 
YSI 9300 or 9500 Photometer 
Round Test Tubes, 10 ml glass (PT 595) 
Photometer Method
AUTOMATIC 
WAVELENGTH 
SELECTION
0 – 5.0 mg/l
PHOT.8.AUTO