Innovative in-situ measurement system for real-time water quality monitoring. Our sensor combines the determination of nitrate (NO3-) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in one compact, cost-effective housing. Ideal for continuous use in soil, ground, and surface waters – delivering low-cost data without time-consuming laboratory analysis.

Precision Water Analytics in Real-Time – Efficient, Compact, and Innovative

Monitoring nutrients and organic matter in aquatic environments is crucial for understanding ecological processes and protecting our resources. While traditional laboratory methods are precise, they are time-consuming and cannot capture rapid fluctuations in concentration. Our new optical multi-parameter sensor system solves this challenge.

By combining advanced spectroscopic principles into a single device, the sensor enables the simultaneous capture of three critical parameters:

• Nitrate (NO3-​): Utilizing UVC absorption (235 nm), nitrate concentrations are determined quickly and non-destructively.
• Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC): Using UVA-induced fluorescence (375 nm) and intelligent algorithms (GAM/Linear models), DOC levels are calculated.
• Turbidity/Particles: An integrated red-light sensor (650 nm) measures turbidity, which also serves to correct measurement errors caused by suspended particles.

What makes this system innovative:
Unlike expensive and complex spectrometers, our system employs a modular architecture using cost-effective LEDs and specialized detectors, such as silicon photomultipliers. The result is a system that matches the performance of high-end reference devices while requiring significantly less power and offering easier operation.

Practical Applications:
The system is specifically designed for field use. Thanks to its robust, 3D-printed housing and RS-485 interface, it can be seamlessly integrated into existing data logger networks. Typical applications include:

• Agriculture: Monitoring nitrate leaching in soil water to optimize fertilization.
• Hydrology: Continuous monitoring of streams and groundwater aquifers.
• Environmental Protection: Early detection of pollutant peaks during heavy rain events.

With high correlation rates (R2R2 up to 0.94 for DOC), the system provides a reliable alternative to discrete sampling and enables dynamic in-situ analysis of water chemistry.