A method for detecting the presence of sugars in the water of a steam generating system by using an indicator composition comprised of potassium permanganate and an acetate in an aqueous solution. After a period of time, depending upon the temperature of the sample tested, the color of the sample is observed to determine if sugars are present in the water.
Water-treatment compositions are provided which contain a water-soluble, water-treatment polymer and, optionally, additional water-treatment chemicals. The polymers are prepared from water-treatment monomers and a photo-inert, latently-detectable moiety which is covalently bonded to the polymer backbone. When the residue of the photo-inert moiety is contacted with an amount of a photoactivator which is effective to cause the residue of the photo-inert moiety to absorb within a wavelength ranging from 300 to 800 nanometers, the residue of the photo-inert moiety is detectable at concentrations of less than 100 parts per million. Methods are also provided which allow for the determination of the concentration of low levels, i.e., less than 100 ppm, of the water-treatment polymer present in an aqueous system.
