A multi-parameter in-situ water quality analyzer based on a portable document scanner and 3D printed self-sampling cells

Abstract

This research introduced a new low-cost and multi-parameter analyzer for in-situ measurements of typical nutrients in water bodies. The analyzer consisted of color detection and chromogenic reaction modules. The self-sampling action of the 3D printed sampling/reaction cells was achieved with the cooperative application of rubber bands and dissolvable thread. The target analytes in the collected water sample reacted with the chromogenic reagents that were diffused from the pre-placed glass wool in the cell, producing color compounds. A portable document scanner was employed as a multi-parameter in-situ detector to record the image of the colored solutions in all five cells simultaneously. Based on the image, the corrected grayscale values were derived for target analyte quantitation. The relationships between grayscale values and concentrations of target analytes were established, and the temperature effects were studied. In addition, the practicability of the analyzer was demonstrated by in-situ experiments carried out in four different sites, including a creek, a river dock, a reservoir and a secondary settling tank in a wastewater treatment facility. The results indicated that the analyzer could be used for in-situ measuring of nutrients at μmol/L levels in the water. The nutrient concentrations obtained with the analyzer were comparable with those obtained with the standard methods. The presented analyzer provided new complementary ideas and methods for in-situ rapid measurement of nutrients and other target analytes in various water systems.

Keywords: Dissolvable thread; Document scanner; In-situ analyzer; Multi-parameter measurement; Self-sampling cell; Water monitoring.