Journal of Biosystems Engineering

Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery (한국농업기계학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

On-site Water Nitrate Monitoring System based on Automatic Sampling and Direct Measurement with Ion-Selective Electrodes

  • Kim, Dong-Wook (Dept. of Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University) ;
  • Jung, Dae-Hyun (Dept. of Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University) ;
  • Cho, Woo-Jae (Dept. of Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University) ;
  • Sim, Kwang-Cheol (Scientec Lab Center co., LTD.) ;
  • Kim, Hak-Jin (Dept. of Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2017.09.28
  • Accepted : 2017.11.28
  • Published : 2017.12.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Purpose: In-situ monitoring of water quality is fundamental to most environmental applications. The high cost and long delays of conventional laboratory methods used to determine water quality, including on-site sampling and chemical analysis, have limited their use in efficiently managing water sources while preventing environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to develop an on-site water monitoring system consisting mainly of an Arduino board and a sensor array of multiple ion selective electrodes (ISEs) to measure the concentration of $NO_3$ ions. Methods: The developed system includes a combination of three ISEs, double-junction reference electrode, solution container, sampling system consisting of three pumps and solenoid valves, signal processing circuit, and an Arduino board for data acquisition and system control. Prior to each sample measurement, a two-point normalization method was applied for a sensitivity adjustment followed by an offset adjustment to minimize the potential drift that could occur during continuous measurement and standardize the response of multiple electrodes. To investigate its utility in on-site nitrate monitoring, the prototype was tested in a facility where drinking water was collected from a water supply source. Results: Differences in the electric potentials of the $NO_3$ ISEs between 10 and $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ $NO_3$ concentration levels were nearly constant with negative sensitivities of 58 to 62 mV during the period of sample measurement, which is representative of a stable electrode response. The $NO_3$ concentrations determined by the ISEs were almost comparable to those obtained with standard instruments within 15% relative errors. Conclusions: The use of the developed on-site nitrate monitoring system based on automatic sampling and two-point normalization was feasible for detecting abrupt changes in nitrate concentration at various water supply sites, showing a maximum difference of $4.2mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ from an actual concentration of $14mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$.

Keywords

References

  1. Bakker, E., P. Buhlmann and E. Pretsch. 1999. Polymer Membrane Ion-Selective Electrodes-What are the Limits? Electroanalysis 11(13): 915-933. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1521-4109(199909)11:13<915::AID-ELAN915>3.0.CO;2-J
  2. Bamsey, M., T. Graham, C. Thompson, A. Berinstain, A. Scott and M. Dixon. 2012. Ion-specific nutrient management in closed systems: the necessity for ion-selective sensors in terrestrial and space-based agriculture and water management systems. Sensors 12(10):13349-13392. https://doi.org/10.3390/s121013349
  3. Birrell, S. J. and J. W. Hummel. 2000. Membrane selection and ISFET configuration evaluation for soil nitrate sensing. Transactions of the ASAE 43(2):197.
  4. Bourgeois, W., A.-C. Romain, J. Nicolas and R. M. Stuetz. 2003. The use of sensor arrays for environmental monitoring: interests and limitations. Journal of Environmental Monitoring 5(6):852-860. https://doi.org/10.1039/b307905h
  5. Capella, J. V., A. Bonastre, R. Ors and M. Peris. 2013. In line river monitoring of nitrate concentration by means of a Wireless Sensor Network with energy harvesting. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 177:419-427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2012.11.034
  6. Carey, C. M. and W. B. Riggan Jr. 1994. Cyclic polyamine ionophore for use in a dibasic phosphate-selective electrode. Analytical Chemistry 66(21):3587-3591. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00093a009
  7. Domingues, D. S., H. W. Takahashi, C. A. Camara and S. L. Nixdorf. 2012. Automated system developed to control pH and concentration of nutrient solution evaluated in hydroponic lettuce production. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 84:53-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2012.02.006
  8. Gutierrez, M., S. Alegret, R.Caceres, J. Casadesus, O. Marfa and M. Del Valle. 2007. Application of a potentiometric electronic tongue to fertigation strategy in greenhouse cultivation. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 57(1):12-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2007.01.012
  9. Jung, D. H., H.-J. Kim, G. L. Choi, T.-I. Ahn, J.-E. Son and K. A. Sudduth. 2015. Automated lettuce nutrient solution management using an array of ion-selective electrodes. Transactions of the ASABE 58(5):1309-1319.
  10. Kim, H.-J., J. W. Hummel and S. J. Birrell. 2006. Evaluation of nitrate and potassium ion-selective membranes for soil macronutrient sensing. Transactions of the ASABE 49(3):597-606. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.20476
  11. Kim, H.-J., W.-K. Kim, M.-Y. Roh, C.-I. Kang, J.-M. Park and K. A. Sudduth. 2013. Automated sensing of hydroponic macronutrients using a computer-controlled system with an array of ion-selective electrodes. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 93:46-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2013.01.011
  12. Mikhelson, K. 1994. Ion-selective electrodes in PVC matrix. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 18(1-3):31-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/0925-4005(94)87051-9
  13. Moorcroft, M. J., J. Davis and R. G. Compton. 2001. Detection and determination of nitrate and nitrite: a review. Talanta 54(5):785-803. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0039-9140(01)00323-X
  14. Oehme, F. 1991. Ionenselektive Elektroden: Huthig Heidelberg.
  15. Rosca, V., M. Duca, M. T. de Groot and M. T. Koper. 2009. Nitrogen cycle electrocatalysis. Chemical Reviews 109(6):2209-2244. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr8003696
  16. Schwarz, J., H. Kaden and G. Pausch. 2000. Development of miniaturized potentiometric nitrate-and ammonium selective electrodes for applications in water monitoring. Fresenius' Journal of Analytical Chemistry 367(4):396-398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160000367
  17. Yilong, Z., Z. Dean and L. Daoliang. 2015. Electrochemical and other methods for detection and determination of dissolved nitrite: a review. International Journal of Electrochemical Science 10:1144-1168.