Novel detectors for rapid field quantitative assessment of some transition metal ions

Abstract

In this thesis, an innovative, homemade, low-cost, portable, precise and accurate camera-based platform was designed, and successfully applied to the assessment of iron and speciation of chromium, in environmental samples. Iron was determined based on its reactions with 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,4,6-Tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine (TPTZ) or salicylate; while chromium was determined based on its reaction with Diphenylcarbazide (DPC), following the recommendations of ASTM, standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, or alike reference protocols. The platform design, evaluation, optimization, application and validation have been thoroughly investigated and incorporated in respective recommended procedures. The current work opens a new era in analytical laboratories by introducing and comparing for the first time the application of various non-uniform color spaces (RGB, CMY, XYZ, Yxy) and uniform color spaces (L*a*b*, LUV, Hunter LAB, LCH, HSL, HSV, ELab and ELUV) as signaling tools.