Autonomous Microlaboratories (MLA) for Continuous Monitoring of Phosphorus in Waters

• Grant number: 10/50744-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Agreement: SABESP
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos Seabra
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Seabra
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City: São Paulo
• Partner institutions: Secretaria de Saneamento e Recursos Hídricos (São Paulo - Estado). Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo (SABESP)

Abstract

As well as nitrogen, phosphorus is one of the main nutrients for biological processes of sewage treatment. This parameter is essential for the characterization of residual waters which may be treated biologically. The last report for the quality of inland waters in São Paulo state, issued by CETESB in 2009, shows that phosphorus was the second parameter of the monitoring network that showed the highest percentage (55 %) of results which did not conform to the quality standards of the Class 2 of 375/05 Conama Brazilian Resolution. This project will build a prototype, called colorimetric autonomous microlaboratory (MLA) for detecting phosphorus concentration in water with the following characteristics: time analysis inferior to 60 minutes (including digestion, filtration, and colorimetry); coefficient of variation inferior to 20% between measurements carried out under strict similar conditions; accuracy between 70 and 120 % of reading; maintenance period exceeding 7 days; easy transport and inviolability to prevent theft or damage; cost up to US$ 5,000.00 ; 3 wavelengths simultaneous operation; reagents maximum consumption of 10 mL per week. This MLA will serve as a platform for development for future determination of other chemical species, such as nitrate, nitrite, chlorophylla and phaeophytin. (AU)

Filed patent(s) as a result of this research project