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Hardware Selection and Performance of Low-Cost Fluorometers.
1O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 26, 2022
Summary
This study introduces a low-cost fluorometer for environmental monitoring, offering comparable performance to expensive equipment. The developed prototype enables wider application of fluorescent tracer analyses in environmental science.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Fluorometric analyses are crucial for environmental transport and fate studies.
- High costs and logistical challenges limit the widespread use of traditional fluorometers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prototype and benchmark low-cost fluorometer components.
- To assess performance against commercial units under various environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Component-level benchmarking of fluorometer parts.
- Performance testing across different tracer concentrations, turbidity, and temperatures.
Main Results:
- Component performance was comparable to commercial units.
- The best prototype configuration achieved 0.1 ppb resolution and a 0.1 to >300 ppb working range.
- The cost of the best configuration was USD 59.13.
Conclusions:
- Low-cost fluorometer components can provide comparable data to expensive commercial equipment.
- This development significantly reduces barriers to entry for fluorescent tracer applications in environmental research.
- The prototyped fluorometer offers a cost-effective solution for environmental monitoring.
