Keep cool in the pool: Novel chip sensor makes swimming pools safer


Date:
July 30, 2020
Source:
University of South Australia
Summary:
A new microchip that enables continuous monitoring of pH and
chlorine levels in swimming pools will vastly improve water safety
as new research shows it can deliver consistent and accurate pool
chemistry for reliable pool management.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new microchip that enables continuous monitoring of pH and chlorine
levels in swimming pools will vastly improve water safety and hygiene for
more than 2.7 million Australians as new research shows it can deliver consistent and accurate pool chemistry for reliable pool management.


========================================================================== Developed by the University of South Australia using world-class
fabrication capabilities, in partnership with electronics research
and manufacturing company Tekelek Australia, the new 'lab-on-a-chip' technology, makes monitoring swimming pools more affordable, more
reliable, and easy to install -- even on existing pools.

UniSA researcher and micro/nanofabrication expert, Associate Professor
Craig Priest, says the microfluidic chip could be a vital addition to Australian swimming pools, particularly as COVID-19 makes people more
aware of the importance of pool hygiene.

"Pool chemistry keeps swimmers safe from viruses and bacteria, yet
getting it right takes a lot of effort," Assoc Prof Priest says.

"Backyard swimming pool management would be a lot easier with a continuous
and automated water quality sensor that can reliably measure accurate
chlorine and pH levels all summer.

"The sensor that we've developed is essentially a 'lab-on-a-chip' --
a network of microscopic pipes running through a credit card-sized chip.



==========================================================================
"The chip quickly and continuously does all the work of a chemistry
laboratory using tiny amounts of chemical, without leaving the poolside.

"For pool owners, this removes the arduous task of manually testing
swimming pools and avoids overuse of pool chemicals, which saves time,
money and, most importantly, the risk of infection from incorrect
pool chemistry." In Australia, 2.7 million people (13 per cent of the population) live in a house with a swimming pool. Currently, existing
pool monitoring systems - - either wireless swimming pool sensors with expensive hardware or labour- intensive manual testing kits such as
those purchased at hardware stores -- are used to monitor the safety of chemicals in pools.

But, as Assoc Prof Priest says, asking pool owners to be backyard chemists could turn summer fun into a health hazard.

"Many of the domestic pools samples showed flaws in manual pool testing,"
Assoc Prof Priest says.



==========================================================================
"One family's swimming pool was seriously overdosed with chlorine,
yet they had no idea.

"Having just bought their home, they did a quick water check at the
local pool shop and were told that there was 'enough' chlorine in the
water but didn't show that there was actually too much.

"A few weeks later, the chlorine levels dropped to zero, which not only highlighted a problem with the chlorinator, but also showed how quickly
pool chemistry can become unsafe." The research tested samples from
12 swimming pools (nine domestic, two public and one outdoor public)
with measures taken on multiple occasions. Every sample had its own
ambient situation -- frequent public use, high leaf matter, different chlorination methods -- ensuring realistic sensor challenges.

An over-dosage of chlorine can cause adverse health effects to the skin,
eyes, and immune system, while under-dosage creates risks of infection
for swimmers.

Research partner, Stephen Thornton, Tekelek Australia says the new
microchip has mass potential for both private and public swimming pools.

"Right now, the need to stay healthy is paramount for us all, and while
we generally feel safe in our own backyard, we must remember that all
swimming pools need to be accurately and efficiently monitored to ensure
water safety," Thornton says.

"Partnering with UniSA has meant that we've been able to develop a
product that truly meets the needs of the market, while also ensuring
public health and safety." The research team is currently in the final
stages of developing the microchip with industry and hopes to have it
on the market soon.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_South_Australia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sait Elmas, Aneta Pospisilova, Aneta Anna Sekulska, Vasil Vasilev,
Thomas
Nann, Stephen Thornton, Craig Priest. Photometric Sensing of
Active Chlorine, Total Chlorine, and pH on a Microfluidic Chip for
Online Swimming Pool Monitoring. Sensors, 2020; 20 (11): 3099 DOI:
10.3390/ s20113099 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200730141355.htm

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