Multi-channel optical sensing system with a BP-ANN for heavy metal detection

A multi-channel optical sensing system for heavy metal concentration detection is presented in this paper. The system utilizes a multi-channel optical path combined with a unique circuit design and BP neural network (BP-ANN) to perform the online analysis of multi-wavelength signals, achieving accurate concentration detection of a heavy metal solution. An array photodiode is used to detect the transmission light intensities at multiple wavelengths through the optical path of the system, which enables the collection of useful spectral information of the solution. The system uses a unique signal acquisition method to effectively improve the efficiency of both signal acquisition and operation. BP-ANN is applied to the online analysis of multi-channel information, which overcomes the influential issue of nonlinear effect on data detection, optimizes the anti-interference ability, and lowers the detection limit of the system. This system eliminates the necessary employment of the expensive and large spectrometers and therefore greatly reduces the instrument cost and occupying space. Additionally, the detection limit of the system is extended lower than that of the conventional spectrophotometer. Compared with the detection limits of heavy metal solution obtained by using a single characteristic light wavelength, the detection limits of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Cr⁶⁺ achieved through using multi-channel detection system can be reduced by 42.64%, 38.12%, and 20.62%, respectively, and these detection limits are found as 0.0041mg/L, 0.0091mg/L, and 0.0112mg/L, respectively.