Jaipur: Researchers from the Central University of Rajasthan (CURAJ) have developed a new sensor that can detect very small amounts of toxic lead ions in drinking water. The team said that the new sensor is designed to be inexpensive, sensitive, and easy to use.A key feature is that it can test water “as is” without adding extra chemicals, buffers, or supporting reagents that many laboratory methods require. The product is a stable self-sustaining electrical testing sensor that is compatible with the mass production of sensors at an industrial level.Prof Pankaj Gupta, assistant professor with the chemistry department at CURAJ who worked on the project said that the sensor was developed in collaboration with Finnish nanotechnology company CANATU to detect toxic lead in drinking water without adding any supporting reagent or chemical and the electrodes have been tested in tap water, Ganges and Brahmaputra river waters at 5°C to 45°C temperature range.“This breakthrough will provide real-world water monitoring and help solve a global health crisis. Our goal with this technology will be the deployment of these sensors in some systematic, time-sensitive way within home drinking water distribution systems, municipal water delivery stations and water treatment plants,” said Gupta. He added that this test sensor eliminates the need for complicated, unstable, and time-consuming chemical modification that is typically associated with nanomaterial-based sensors.Prof. Anand Bhalerao, vice-chancellor of CURAJ said, “The development of affordable and scalable water quality monitoring technology has the potential to create meaningful impact across communities worldwide.”Researchers said that lead can get mixed with water supply from water pipes or source itself, which does not get detected usually as the colour of the water does not change, but accumulation of lead in the body can lead to health problems over a period of time. Gupta added that lead particularly impacts development of the brain in kids.
