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A multi-parameter in-situ water quality analyzer based on a portable document scanner and 3D printed self-sampling
Beichen Lin1, Jin Xu2, Cecilia Yu3
1School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332, Georgia, USA; Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science & Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
Analytica Chimica Acta
|February 8, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed a low-cost analyzer for rapid, in-situ water nutrient measurement. This device uses color detection and a portable scanner, offering accurate results comparable to standard methods for environmental monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Water Quality Monitoring
Background:
- Accurate in-situ measurement of water nutrients is crucial for environmental monitoring.
- Existing methods can be costly and time-consuming, limiting rapid assessment.
- There is a need for accessible, multi-parameter analytical tools for diverse water bodies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel, low-cost, multi-parameter analyzer for in-situ nutrient detection in water.
- To demonstrate the analyzer's capability for simultaneous measurement of multiple analytes.
- To validate the analyzer's performance against standard methods in various aquatic environments.
Main Methods:
- Development of a 3D-printed analyzer with integrated color detection and chromogenic reaction modules.
- Utilized self-sampling cells with dissolvable thread and rubber bands for automated sample collection and reagent diffusion.
- Employed a portable document scanner for simultaneous image acquisition of colored reaction products.
- Quantified analytes based on corrected grayscale values derived from digital images.
Main Results:
- The analyzer successfully measured typical water nutrients at micromole per liter (μmol/L) levels.
- Established quantitative relationships between grayscale values and analyte concentrations, considering temperature effects.
- Demonstrated practicability across diverse sites: creek, river dock, reservoir, and wastewater treatment facility.
- Achieved results comparable to conventional laboratory-based standard methods.
Conclusions:
- The developed analyzer offers a cost-effective and efficient solution for in-situ water quality assessment.
- The innovative design provides complementary approaches for rapid nutrient analysis in various water systems.
- This technology facilitates timely environmental monitoring and management through accessible field measurements.
