Systems, devices, and methods for electrochemical water analysis
AssigneeQueen's University at Kingston
InventorsYu Pei, Zhe She, Sarah Jane Odessa Payne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for electrochemical analysis of water include acid cleaning a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), stabilizing a QCM in analyte solution, and analyzing the solution by chronoamperometry and measuring a frequency shift of the QCM. The method may further include cleaning the QCM in an acid solution prior to stabilizing the QCM in analyte solution. The apparatus may provide at least semi-automated electrochemical analysis of water including determining a concentration of an analyte in a water sample, and communicating the concentration of the analyte over a network. The analyte may be manganese.
Claims20
A method for quantifying an analyte in water, comprising:
- exposing a piezoelectric material having at least one electrode disposed thereon to the water;
- electrodepositing the analyte on the electrode by applying an electrical potential to the electrode while simultaneously measuring an electrical current through the electrode as a function of time and a frequency shift of vibration of the piezoelectric material as a function of time;
- using the measured electrical current as a function of time to determine a charge on the electrode and the measured frequency shift as a function of time to determine a mass of the analyte deposited on the electrode;
- and
- using the charge on the electrode and the mass of the analyte deposited on the electrode to determine a concentration of the analyte in the water.
Apparatus for quantifying an analyte in water, comprising:
- a cell that is adapted to contain the water;
- a piezoelectric material removably disposed in the cell, the piezoelectric material having at least one electrode disposed thereon, wherein the at least one electrode is exposed to the water when the water is contained in the cell;
- a measuring device that controls electrodepositing the analyte on the electrode by applying an electrical potential to the electrode while simultaneously measuring an electrical current through the electrode as a function of time and a frequency shift of vibration of the piezoelectric material as a function of time;
- a data processing device including a processor that executes an algorithm stored on non-volatile memory, wherein the algorithm directs the processor to:
- receive measurement data from the measuring device corresponding to the measured electrical current through the electrode as a function of time and the frequency shift of vibration of the piezoelectric material as a function of time;
- calculate the charge on the electrode and the measured frequency shift as a function of time;
- calculate the mass of the analyte deposited on the electrode;
- use the charge on the electrode and the mass of the analyte deposited on the electrode to calculate the concentration of the analyte in the water;
- and
- output a value of the concentration of the analyte in the water;
- the apparatus further comprising a controller that controls operation of the measuring device and the processing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.