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. 2018 Dec 21;19(1):33.
doi: 10.3390/s19010033.

WaterSpy: A High Sensitivity, Portable Photonic Device for Pervasive Water Quality Analysis

Nikolaos Doulamis  1 , Athanasios Voulodimos  2   3 , Anastasios Doulamis  4 , Matthaios Bimpas  5 , Aikaterini Angeli  6 , Nikolaos Bakalos  7 , Alessandro Giusti  8 , Panayiotis Philimis  9 , Antonio Varriale  10 , Alessio Ausili  11 , Sabato D'Auria  10 , George Lampropoulos  12 , Matthias Baer  13 , Bernhard Schmauss  14 , Stephan Freitag  15 , Bernhard Lendl  16 , Krzysztof Młynarczyk  17 , Aleksandra Sosna-Głębska  18 , Artur Trajnerowicz  19 , Jarosław Pawluczyk  20 , Mateusz Żbik  21 , Jacek Kułakowski  22 , Panagiotis Georgiadis  23 , Stéphane Blaser  24 , Nicola Bazzurro  25
Affiliations

WaterSpy: A High Sensitivity, Portable Photonic Device for Pervasive Water Quality Analysis

Nikolaos Doulamis et al. Sensors (Basel). .

Abstract

In this paper, we present WaterSpy, a project developing an innovative, compact, cost-effective photonic device for pervasive water quality sensing, operating in the mid-IR spectral range. The approach combines the use of advanced Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) employing the Vernier effect, used as light source, with novel, fibre-coupled, fast and sensitive Higher Operation Temperature (HOT) photodetectors, used as sensors. These will be complemented by optimised laser driving and detector electronics, laser modulation and signal conditioning technologies. The paper presents the WaterSpy concept, the requirements elicited, the preliminary architecture design of the device, the use cases in which it will be validated, while highlighting the innovative technologies that contribute to the advancement of the current state of the art.

Keywords: Quantum Cascade Lasers; photodetectors; photonics; water quality monitoring.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Fingerprint IR band of the selected analytes with respect to wavenumber: (a) & (d): absolute, and (b) & (c): second derivative.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A map of the area around Prato where the WaterSpy device will be installed.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic diagram of the water flow.
Figure 4
Figure 4
WATERSPY incubation module.
Figure 5
Figure 5
High level architecture configuration.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Integrated WaterSpy fluidic system.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Configuration of WaterSpy based on TRITON platform.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The GaAs hyperhemispherical lens.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Details of the sample handling and pre-concentration system.
Figure 10
Figure 10
ATR setup.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Two levels architecture.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Single level architecture.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Firmware architecture main approach.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Configuration of the thermostated syringe.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Results of the incubations in the thermostated syringe compared to respective bacteria incubations in the bacteriological incubator.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Previous ELISA experiments.
Figure 17
Figure 17
The microplate used for the experiment.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Experimental Results of the ELISA tests.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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