Fernandes, S.; Tlemçani, M.; Bortoli, D.; Feliciano, M.; Lopes, M.E. The Development of a Novel Nitrate Portable Measurement System Based on a UV Paired Diode–Photodiode. Sensors2024, 24, 5367.
Fernandes, S.; Tlemçani, M.; Bortoli, D.; Feliciano, M.; Lopes, M.E. The Development of a Novel Nitrate Portable Measurement System Based on a UV Paired Diode–Photodiode. Sensors 2024, 24, 5367.
Fernandes, S.; Tlemçani, M.; Bortoli, D.; Feliciano, M.; Lopes, M.E. The Development of a Novel Nitrate Portable Measurement System Based on a UV Paired Diode–Photodiode. Sensors2024, 24, 5367.
Fernandes, S.; Tlemçani, M.; Bortoli, D.; Feliciano, M.; Lopes, M.E. The Development of a Novel Nitrate Portable Measurement System Based on a UV Paired Diode–Photodiode. Sensors 2024, 24, 5367.
Abstract
Nitrates can cause severe ecological imbalances in aquatic ecosystems, with considerable consequences for human health. Therefore, monitoring this inorganic form of nitrogen becomes essential for any water quality management structure. This research aimed at developing a novel Nitrate Portable Measurement System (NPMS) for monitoring nitrate concentrations in water samples. NPMS is a reagent-free ultraviolet system developed using low-cost electronic components. Its operation principle is based on Beer-Lambert law for measuring Nitrate concentrations in water samples through light absorption in the spectral range 295-315 nm. The system is equipped with ready to use ultraviolet sensor, Light Emission Diode (LED), op-amp, microcontroller, liquid crystal display, quartz cuvette, temperature sensor, and battery. All the components are assembled in a 3D-printed enclosure box which allows a very compact self-contained equipment, with high portability, enabling field and near real time measurements. The proposed methodology and the developed instrument were used to analyse multiple nitrate standard solutions. The performance was evaluated in comparison with the Nicolet Evolution 300, a classical UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the retrieved measurements by both instruments within the investigated spectral band and for concentrations above 5 mg NO3- /l.
Keywords
nitrate; UV; optical; spectroscopy; real time; portable device; water; absorbance; opto-electronic; chemistry; environment; human health
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Water Science and Technology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.