How Kemio Disinfection Delivers Reliable Testing for Post-Harvest Water Treatment

Raising the Standard in Post-Harvest Water Treatment

Post-harvest food processing facilities operate under constant pressure. Whether it’s salad washing, root veg rinsing, or chilled prep lines, the margin for error is vanishingly small — especially when it comes to water disinfection. The success of any post-harvest water treatment process hinges on the ability to monitor and control disinfectant levels accurately, consistently, and in real time.

For too long, operators have been asked to manage this critical task with outdated tools. Colour comparators, visual strip tests, and manual recording methods may have been acceptable in the past, and still have their place in many applications, but they no longer meet the requirements of today’s food safety and compliance landscape. What’s needed now is a smarter solution — one that delivers speed, accuracy, traceability, and ease of use.

That’s where Kemio Disinfection from Palintest stands out. Designed specifically for high-risk production environments, it represents a step-change in how food processors approach disinfection testing in post-harvest water treatment systems.

The Technology Behind Kemio Disinfection

Kemio Disinfection uses amperometric electrochemical technology, which measures disinfectant concentrations through a direct chemical reaction — not by interpreting colour or light. This approach allows it to operate accurately in real-world conditions where visual testing would struggle, such as with turbid, coloured or particle-rich samples commonly found in post-harvest rinse and wash waters.

Crucially, Kemio Disinfection supports a wide range of disinfectants used in global markets. It can test for free chlorine, total chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and peracetic acid (PAA) — all of which play critical roles in post-harvest water treatment. The ability to verify all these parameters in one platform makes Kemio Disinfection especially valuable for producers exporting across regions with different regulatory frameworks.

One of Kemio Disinfection’s core advantages lies in its repeatability. Unlike visual methods that can vary based on lighting, operator fatigue, or interpretation, Kemio Disinfection delivers objective results every time. With its built-in digital audit trail, each test is time-stamped and stored, supporting data integrity, traceability, and third-party validation.

Features That Deliver Real-World Value

For operators managing post-harvest water treatment, Kemio Disinfection provides more than just test results — it delivers operational confidence and strategic clarity. From usability to durability, its design is rooted in the practical demands of busy production floors.

Key features and benefits include:

• Guided workflows that reduce training time and support consistent testing across shifts and sites.
• Portable, battery-powered design for on-site testing, eliminating the need to send samples to a lab.
• Tamper-proof digital records that simplify compliance with regulators and retailer audits.
• Interference-free measurements that maintain accuracy even in heavily soiled or coloured wash water.

Together, these features support real-time decision-making. With Kemio Disinfection, teams can test, interpret, and act within minutes — maintaining safe disinfection levels while minimising chemical overuse, reducing risk, and avoiding production delays.

Putting Kemio Disinfection to Work in the Field

Across UK, US and APAC markets, food producers are already seeing the benefits of switching to Kemio Disinfection for post-harvest water treatment. In high-throughput salad washing lines, the ability to test rinse water on-site and in real time helps avoid unnecessary stoppages. In root crop processing, where water turbidity fluctuates throughout the day, Kemio’s interference-resistant testing delivers reliable results where colourimetric methods fail.

One QA manager described it as “transformational for frontline testing — finally a solution that’s built for production, not the lab.” That real-world usability, combined with robust data output, is why many are integrating Kemio Disinfection into daily checks and audit protocols across multiple sites.

Designed for Today’s Challenges — and Tomorrow’s

As food safety standards continue to evolve, so too must the tools that support compliance. The post-harvest environment is becoming more complex, with increased scrutiny over chemical usage, environmental impact, and audit readiness. Kemio Disinfection is designed with these future challenges in mind — offering a platform that adapts as requirements shift. With the ability to handle a variety of disinfectants and water conditions, it supports both current operations and long-term strategic goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Kemio Disinfection suitable for post-harvest water treatment?

• Kemio Disinfection uses electrochemical technology to deliver accurate, repeatable results even in turbid or coloured water, ideal for complex post-harvest wash systems.

Can Kemio Disinfection test more than just chlorine?

• Yes, Kemio Disinfection can measure free chlorine, total chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and peracetic acid (PAA), supporting a range of post-harvest water treatment strategies.

How does Kemio Disinfection support compliance?

• It provides time-stamped digital records for every test, creating a verifiable audit trail that satisfies regulatory and retailer requirements.

Is Kemio Disinfection easy for frontline workers to use?

• Yes, it features guided workflows and minimal training requirements, ensuring consistent use by all team members.

What are the benefits of electrochemical testing over visual methods?

• Electrochemical testing removes subjectivity, works in challenging samples, and delivers faster, more reliable results — which is critical for effective post-harvest water treatment.