Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
A Continuous Automated System and Method for Sensing of Nitrite in Water
Categories for this Invention
Technology: Water quality monitoring
Category: Environmental Engineering Chemistry & Chemical Analysis
Industry: Water & Wastewater Management
Application: Both domestic and industrial applications for real-time online water quality monitoring of Nitrite.
Market: The global market size of water Quality Monitoring Market is likely to grow with a CAGR of 5.51% during the forecast period 2023-2030, and reach a revenue of $8275.72 million by 2030, from $5420.38 million in 2022.
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Problem Statement
- Water quality is crucial for all living organisms, but anthropogenic sources like livestock waste, organic waste, and fertilizers cause significant contamination.
- Early detection of nitrite and nitrate in water is essential to prevent further damage and prevent environmental issues.
- Conventional methods for detecting contaminants include spectrophotometric, chemiluminescence, electrochemical, chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and spectrofluorimetric.
- However, these methods require expert assistance and are sensitive but expensive.
- Automated real-time monitoring systems are needed to address challenges and improve water quality, including low-cost sensors and environmentally friendly systems.
Technology
- A real-time continuous monitoring automated system for sensing of nitrite in water by colorimetric method, the system comprising:
- Detection Chamber configured to do a preliminary colour analysis of a sample and cuvette to hold the sample and wherein the sample is pumped to the chamber.
- Driver Circuit configured to enable pumping of the sample and a reagent to the detection chamber.
- An automated mixing mechanism with a servo motor to mix sample with reagent and a light source for incubation.
- Photo detector for record the absorbance of light by the sample and the sample reagent mix to obtain a secondary color analysis.
- A Microcontroller and Relay module for automated operation, and
- A Rinse and Drain Mechanism for cleaning the cuvette for fresh sample sensing.
- The system uses white light with good sensitivity in green and blue ranges, focusing on a 20mm cuvette with a 7ml volume capacity.
- A Plano-convex lens focuses light onto a color sensor in a photo detector, recording absorbance at 543 nm. Nitrite concentration is detected using a reagent.
- The system minimizes interference from external disturbances and uses ratio metric analysis to remove stain and color effects.
Key Features / Value Proposition
- The system utilizes online sensing techniques to monitor water quality in aqueous systems in real-time, utilizing a fully automated and portable system.
- The online colorimetric sensing technique is a method that is independent of the stain’s effects on the detection chamber and the color of the tested sample.
- The study aims to provide fast, accurate, and continuous measurements of nitrite in water.
- The detection process is automated and results are verified using cuvette staining and external-colored compounds in the water system.
- The online nitrite detection system is reliable and automated, detecting nitrite in the 0-10 mg/L range.
- It eliminates stain or color development, and no humidity limitations are present.
- Low-cost, portable, and automated devices, with a readily available test kit.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact For Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Boby George
Department of Electrical Engineering
Prof. Ligy Philip
Department of Civil Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 2588
- Patent No: IN 533197
Technology Readiness Level
TRL-4
Experimentally validated in Lab