Research
Title : | Development of a smartphone camera-based sensor for detection and remediation of chromium pollution in water |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences, Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Focus area : | Water Pollution |
Principal Investigator : | Abhas Singh, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur |
Contact info : | abhas[at]iitk[dot]ac[dot]i; rakjai[at]lw1[dot]vsnl[dot]net[dot]in |
Details
Executive Summary : | Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] in drinking water has a deleterious effect on human health as it is a proven carcinogen. Current methods of detection are complicated, costly and require skilled personnel for implementation. This project attempts to utilize ICT technology to develop an inexpensive, robust and easy-to-use smartphone-based detection method. When complexed with a specific reagent, Cr(VI) imparts a characteristic colour whose intensity depends on the chromium concentration present, but is not easily discernible with naked eye. A smartphone camera, however, can detect these small intensity changes. The reagent specificity for Cr(VI) also helps to avoid interferences from other water constituents, like turbidity. Accurate and instant estimation of Cr(VI) would empower communities to select Cr(VI)-free water among diverse sources for their domestic needs and also help them determine the right dosage of chromate-reducing agents to treat contaminated water. No such camera-based Cr(VI) detection method is currently available anywhere in the world. |
Co-PI: | Samuel Rajkumar, Akvo Development Tools and Services Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, Rakesh Kumar Jaiswal, Eco friends (NGO), Dr Harald Weigand, THM University of Applied Sciences, Germany, Dr. Tim Mansfeldt, University of Cologne, Germany |
Total Budget (INR): | 8,84,00,000 |
Organizations involved
Implementing Agency : | Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur Akvo Development Tools and Services Pvt. Ltd., Delhi Eco friends (NGO), THM University of Applied Sciences, Germany University of Cologne, Germany |
Funding Agency : | Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India |