Scientists at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SB RAS have developed a luminescent sensor that can determine the presence of four types of pollutants in water in a matter of seconds. The technology is designed for rapid water quality analysis in domestic conditions.
The sensor is made in the form of a powder, which is mixed with hydrogel and applied to a flat surface as a thin polymer film. For analysis, a water sample is dripped onto the surface and illuminated with ultraviolet light. If the liquid contains pollutants, the film begins to glow green. The intensity of the glow indicates the concentration of pollutants.
The new development can detect sulfates, dihydrogen phosphates, as well as aluminum and gallium ions. The sensitivity of the sensor allows detecting up to 35 milligrams of a substance per thousand liters of water. This is comparable to one teaspoon of salt in a full swimming pool.
The scientists paid special attention to sulfates — they have no color, do not change the acidity of water, and do not absorb light, which makes them invisible to standard methods. Until now, the analysis for sulfates took several hours and was carried out by the gravimetric method. The new sensor solves this problem in seconds, emphasized Doctor of Chemical Sciences Andrey Potapov, Chief Researcher at the Laboratory of Metal-Organic Coordination Polymers of the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SB RAS.
The technology does not require complex equipment, which makes it suitable for domestic use. In the future, scientists plan to create portable devices based on a polymer film, which will be used in apartments, country houses, and in the field. Work is also underway to expand the range of sensors, including for the detection of mercury and other toxic compounds.
The new development will help make drinking water quality control more accessible and faster, which is especially important for remote areas and regions with problematic ecology.
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