Validation of Low-Cost Impedance Analyzer via Nitrate Detection

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Impedance spectroscopy is a versatile electrochemical technique.
• Accessibility to low-cost impedance devices can broaden applications.
• Nitrate detection is environmentally significant due to concentration fluctuations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and validate a low-cost impedance device with a high performance-to-cost ratio.
• To assess the device's performance against a high-performance potentiostat.
• To demonstrate its utility in a relevant application, such as nitrate detection.

Main Methods:

• A low-cost impedance device was designed and constructed.
• Performance was validated against a DropSens µStat-i 400s potentiostat.
• Nitrate detection was performed using samples in the 3-1000 mg/L range, with colorimetric confirmation.

Main Results:

• The impedance analyzer demonstrated a high performance-to-cost ratio.
• Calibration curves showed a sigmoidal transfer for real impedance, with linearity below 10 mg/L.
• The device exhibited low average errors: 1.28% magnitude and 0.96° phase compared to the standard.

Conclusions:

• The developed low-cost impedance device is validated for accurate electrochemical measurements.
• This device offers a cost-effective alternative for applications like environmental nitrate monitoring.
• The findings support the increased accessibility of impedance spectroscopy.