Guwahati, August 10 (APAC Media): Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a portable optical sensing device capable of rapidly detecting multiple toxicants in water and other biological and environmental samples.
Named E-Eye, the point-of-care testing device is designed to address challenges associated with water quality monitoring, particularly in the context of the Government of India’s Jal Jeevan Mission.
While the mission aims to provide tap water to households across the country, ensuring the quality of water remains a challenge due to varying water sources that may contain heavy metals and disease-causing contaminants.
Digital and Wireless Water Quality Monitoring
Designed to function as an “electronic eye”, E-Eye can detect toxicants directly at the source while maintaining high accuracy. The device uses a chemical reaction that produces a coloured compound, with the intensity of the colour indicating the concentration of the toxicant.
Using optical principles, E-Eye analyses the sample, converts the sensor output into digital data, and displays the concentration of the detected toxicant. The recorded data can also be transmitted wirelessly to water treatment facilities, enabling greater integration with digital monitoring systems.
Affordable Alternative to Laboratory Testing
The device costs approximately Rs 3,500, with each sample costing around Rs 2 to test. The cost could decline further with large-scale production. Laboratory trials involving more than 2,700 samples showed results comparable to conventional UV-Visible and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers (AAS), while offering portability and digital connectivity.
Beyond water, E-Eye can analyse toxicants in environmental and biological samples, vegetables, food products, tea and herbal products, soil, and milk.
Towards Solar-Powered Remote Monitoring
The research team is now working on integrating solar panels into the device to make it self-sustaining. Future development will also focus on cloud connectivity, enabling remote monitoring, and improved data management for water quality assessment.
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