Fun with Smartphones: Handy Solution for Quantification of Debilitating Fluoride Ions in Drinking Water

Abstract

A smartphone-based digital imaging method has been successfully introduced in an undergraduate laboratory class to quantify fluoride ions in water. Students first synthesized the chemosensor (E)-2-(1-(6-nitro-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)ethylidene)-N-phenylhydrazine-1-carbothioamide (CT) via an eco-friendly and green microwave-assisted protocol and characterized the product using FTIR spectroscopy, HRMS, and NMR spectroscopy. Students are advised to quantify the colorimetric response of a chemosensor toward fluoride ion by a UV−vis spectrophotometer and smartphone with the preinstalled Color Picker Android application to read the output RGB values, simultaneously. The agreement of results from the developed smartphone-based colorimetry protocol with the conventional UV−vis method validated the feasibility of the smartphone as a new analytical tool for versatile, cheap, and prompt analysis of fluoride ions in real samples. Overall, the experiment develops a multidimensional understanding of green chemistry principles and atom economy as well as characterization techniques, data collection, calibration plots, Job's plot, and interpretation of results.

Hybridized sulfated-carboxymethyl cellulose/MWNT nanocomposite as highly selective electrochemical probe for trace detection of arsenic in real environmental samples

“…To date, a number of electrochemical sensing probes based on inorganic nanoparticles, organic molecules, polysaccharides, and their derivatives have been developed to determine toxic metal ions in various environmental samples. 23,24 The discovery of carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), brings a revolutionary expansion in this area of electrochemical research. CNTs have fascinated huge attention in recent years for electrochemical determinations because of their physicochemical properties, high modulus of elasticity, specific surface area mechanical, superior electronic conductivity, as well as their high aspect ratio, good strength, and low density.…”

Trendbericht: Chemiedidaktik 2022

“…So haben Gupta et al eine Methode entwickelt, um Fluoridionen in Trinkwasser quantitativ mit Smartphonesensoren nachzuweisen. 36) Wilke et al haben ein digitales Schüler:innenlabor konzipiert, das ein klassisches Schüler:innenlabor ergänzt und sowohl Wissen vermitteln als auch die Wirksamkeit digitaler Medien untersuchen soll. 37) Abb.…”

Whey Protein Analysis Using the Lowry Assay and 96-Well-Plate Digital Images Acquired Using Smartphones

“…Normally, colorimetric assays were carried out using spectrophotometers. However, nowadays, digital images obtained using electronic devices such as smartphones and scanners have been widely used instead of spectrophotometers. − For example, Na + , F – , Fe 3+ , − Cu 2+ , , NO 2 – , NO 3 – , tyrosinase, glucose, proteins, ,, food dyes, − reducing compounds, and pharmaceuticals − were quantified using digital images.…”