Analysis of river water samples utilising a prototype industrial sensing system for phosphorus based on micro-system...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Microsystems Technology

Background:

• Standard methods for phosphorus analysis can be time-consuming and complex.
• Microsystems technology (MST) offers potential for miniaturized and efficient analytical devices.
• Developing rapid, on-site monitoring tools for river water quality is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a phosphorus monitoring device utilizing microsystems technology (MST) for river water analysis.
• To implement and validate the yellow vanadomolybdophosphoric acid method as an alternative to the molybdenum blue method.
• To assess the performance of the developed device for environmental phosphorus measurements.

Main Methods:

• A microsystems technology (MST) based device was developed for water analysis.
• The yellow vanadomolybdophosphoric acid method was employed, involving a 1:1 reagent-sample mix forming a UV-absorbing complex.
• A UV-LED light source at 380 nm was used in conjunction with a microfluidic system.

Main Results:

• The yellow method demonstrated rapid reaction kinetics with a 3-minute sample turnaround time at room temperature.
• The microfluidic system achieved a limit of detection of 0.2 ppm and a linear dynamic range of 0-50 ppm.
• The device was successfully applied to measure phosphorus levels in a local river at various points.

Conclusions:

• The MST-based phosphorus monitoring device using the yellow vanadomolybdophosphoric acid method is effective for river water analysis.
• This method provides a simple, rapid, and sensitive alternative for environmental phosphorus monitoring.
• The developed system demonstrates practical application for assessing water quality in situ.