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Optical chemical sensor designed to integrate with low-cost portable instrumentation platforms. Detects chemical species and specific target analytes in water. Lightweight/portable
About
This photonic-based technology utilizes optical chemical sensor materials developed in St Andrews that are designed to integrate with low-cost portable instrumentation platforms. These selective materials are able to detect target molecules by exhibiting a loss of light emission when in contact with the analyte. Specifically, the technology employs light-emitting polymers that are highly effective in a variety of applications. The sensor platforms are designed to be lightweight and portable, making them easy to deploy in a variety of settings. Multiple units can be integrated together in a buoy to form a powerful multianalyte network, ideal for long-term monitoring of water bodies, drinking water intake points, and ecologically sensitive areas against accidental or malicious contamination. In addition, the sensors can be placed non-disruptively along processing lines.
Key Benefits
Ensuring the integrity of water quality and networks is therefore critical, as water contamination poses a significant concern for water providers, environmental agencies, and the general public alike.
Current methods of pesticide detection are often cumbersome, expensive, and slow. These sensors provide a low-cost, real-time diagnostic system for detecting both chemical species and specific targeted analytes, making it a valuable tool for addressing water quality issues more effectively.
- Fast, real-time detection of contaminants
- Flexible hand-held or long-term deployment options
- Direct streaming of data to device browser – no specific app
- 5G-enabled
- Replaceable sensor strips on robust PTFE substrates
- Less than 500g
Applications
Pesticides – Pesticides and herbicides pose a significant threat to water quality, as they can enter waterways through diffuse pollution over time. These pollutants have the potential to contaminate both surface and groundwater destined for drinking water, and can also impact private wells. It is therefore critical to monitor water quality and detect the presence of these harmful substances to prevent their negative impact on public health and the environment.
Pharmaceuticals – The detection of pharmaceuticals, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, in waterways can serve as an indicator of Combined Sewage Overflow. Pharmaceuticals can enter waterways through various routes, including direct discharge from wastewater treatment plants and run-off from agricultural land. Given the potential risks associated with exposure to these substances, it is important to monitor and detect their presence in order to better understand and manage their impact on human health and the environment.
Explosives - The use of explosives in mining activities can lead to the contamination of water, which can have severe consequences for both human health and the environment. In addition to their impact on mining-related activities, explosives detection also has significant potential in the fields of security and aviation. Detecting the presence of explosives in various settings can help mitigate potential risks associated with their use, such as terrorist attacks and other security threats.