GUWAHATI: A research scholar from Tezpur University has found a low-cost and user-friendly way to detect the level of fluoride contamination of water by using just a smartphone.
BIRAC, or Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, is a government enterprise.
The ambient light sensor (ALS) and the LED flash in smartphones are used to detect fluoride contamination, Iftak said.
"The detection technology is based on fluoride’s reaction with zirconium dye, which forms a colourless complex anion (a negatively charged ion).
As the fluoride concentration increases, it tends to bleach the dye to make it progressively lighter in colour.
A specific wavelength from the LED flash is allowed to interact with the reagent-treated water sample.
"The interface is simple and easy to use.
This technology can be handled by anyone," he added.
The project, with which Kamal Uddin Ahmed of the department of civil engineering at Tezpur University is also associated, is extremely significant in the state, where the concentration of fluoride in ground water has been detected to be up to 6.88 mg per litre.
"The cost of the kit will further go down once it starts commercial production," he added.