3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / Low-cost, 3D Printed Sensor Could Revolutionize Water Monitoring
Join our mailinglist

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Low-cost, 3D Printed Sensor Could Revolutionize Water Monitoring

June 5, 2023

A new water pollution monitoring system is set to revolutionize environmental monitoring practices in the water sector. Developed by a team of researchers from renowned universities in Scotland, Portugal, and Germany, this groundbreaking system features a low-cost, 3D printed sensor capable of detecting minute concentrations of pesticides in water samples.

Pesticides play a crucial role in protecting agricultural produce, but their potential harm to human health, animals, and the environment necessitates careful handling. To mitigate water pollution risks associated with pesticides, regular monitoring and analysis are essential. However, current laboratory-based pesticide tests using methods like chromatography and mass spectrometry are time-consuming and expensive.

Low-cost, 3D Printed Sensor Could Revolutionize Water Monitoring
Processing of PP/MWCNT nanocomposites and coating them with plasmonic NPs: a) nanoengineered filament development via meltblending, b) 3D printing of cellular architectures, c) coating cellular architectures with Ag NPs, and d) SERS imaging detection of organic dyes in water samples. (Image Credit: Macromolecular Materials and Engineering)

A promising alternative gaining traction in the scientific community is Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). This chemical analysis tool leverages the interaction of light with molecular structures to identify and detect trace amounts of molecules in test samples. By optimizing the metal surface for better molecule adsorption, SERS can detect minute concentrations of substances.

Motivated by the need for a portable and cost-effective testing method that delivers prompt on-site results, the research team focused on developing a novel approach using 3D-printed materials. They experimented with various cellular architectures composed of polypropylene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, coated with silver and gold nanoparticles. The team evaluated different architected designs and found a lattice design combined with silver nanoparticles to be the most promising.

The researchers successfully tested the system using water samples spiked with low concentrations of real pesticides. The test strips were able to detect pesticide molecules at concentrations as low as 1 micromolar, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness. Professor Shanmugam Kumar from the University of Glasgow praised SERS as a valuable diagnostic technique applicable in various fields.

Dr. Sara Fateixa from the University of Aveiro highlighted the adaptability of the system, suggesting it could be used to monitor the presence of a wide range of chemicals in samples. For example, in farming, the system could provide affordable and reliable results for testing milk from cattle treated with antibiotics before allowing it back on the market.

This innovative water pollution monitoring system has the potential to streamline environmental monitoring processes, making them more efficient, economical, and accessible to a wide range of industries and applications.

The team’s work has been published in the journal ‘Macromolecular Materials and Engineering’ under the title “Additive manufacturing-enabled architected nanocomposite lattices coated with plasmonic nanoparticles for water pollutants detection.”

Come and let us know your thoughts on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages, and don’t forget to sign up for our weekly additive manufacturing newsletter to get all the latest stories delivered right to your inbox.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Phillip Keane
Phillip is an aerospace engineer from UK. He is a graduate of Coventry University (UK), International Space University (France) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), where he studied Advanced Manufacturing at the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing.
Latest posts

EVAP and Assembrix Partnership to Boost UAE’s AM Ecosystem

EVAP Investment LLC and Assembrix Ltd have formed a strategic partnership aimed at elevating the United Arab Emirates' additive manufacturing (AM) sector. EVAP... read more »

News
innovation in the UAE

Sugar-based 3D Printed Pavilion Revealed in Singapore

Unveiled at Singapore Design Week, Altostrata is a 3D printed pavilion made from compostable sugar-based PLA. It showcases mobile 3D printing platform Fab.Pub's... read more »

Environmental
Sugar-based 3D Printed Pavilion Revealed in Singapore

Collaboration Demonstrates Crafts-Inspired 3D Printing

British designer Gareth Neal and Dutch studio The New Raw have introduced the Digitally Woven series, utilizing thrice-recycled plastic and a loop-based 3D... read more »

News
Collaboration Demonstrates Crafts-Inspired 3D Printing

Researchers Develop Sensors with 3D Printed Plasmonic Plastic

Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have pioneered a 3D printed plasmonic plastic - a composite material with intriguing optical properties. This... read more »

Materials
Researchers Develop Sensors with 3D Printed Plasmonic Plastic

Greenwood Power Secures €5.1M to Boost Production with 3D Printing

Greenwood Power has garnered €5.1 million in funding to escalate its operations and potentially set up manufacturing in the US. The Austrian firm... read more »

News
Greenwood Power Secures €5.1M to Boost Production with 3D Printing

Improving Metal Post-Processing with Pulsed Electrochemical Machining

Thanks to 3D printing, manufacturing has been graced with reduced costs, material waste, and faster design iteration, especially in the metal AM sector.... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Improving Metal Post-Processing with Pulsed Electrochemical Machining

Pentagon Sees AM as Key to Hypersonic Weapons

In a recent webinar, a Department of Defence official has expressed how 3D printing will aid hypersonic weapons production for the Pentagon. Keith... read more »

Military
Pentagon Sees AM as Key to Hypersonic Weapons

Transforming Earbuds into Brain Activity Monitors using 3D Printing

Researchers from the University of California San Diego have successfully morphed ordinary earbuds into sophisticated devices capable of recording the brain's electrical activity.... read more »

Electronics
Transforming Earbuds into Brain Activity Monitors using 3D Printing

3D Printing Resurrects the Aztec Death Whistle

For those seeking a unique way to ring in this Halloween, the revival of an ancient Aztec Death Whistle, often termed as the... read more »

News
3D Printing Resurrects the Aztec Death Whistle

Create It Real’s Quest for Quality 3D Printing

Danish company Create It Real is on a mission to help manufacturers using 3D printing to create not only end use products, but... read more »

News
Create It Real’s Quest for Quality 3D Printing

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
  • Twitter Twitter 3D Printing
  • Modix BIG-180X Modix BIG-180X
    1800 x 600 x 600 mm
    from $15,500
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG Meter Modix BIG Meter
    1010 x 1010 x 1010 mm
    from $13,500
    Request a Quote
  • Industry MAGNUM Industry MAGNUM
    1500 x 1200 x 1200 mm
    €159.000
    Request a Quote
  • Hands-On Review: The Mole 3D Scanner Hands-On Review: The Mole 3D Scanner Learn More
  • Hands-On Review: Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Hands-On Review: Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Learn More

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Modix BIG-180X Modix BIG-180X
    1800 x 600 x 600 mm
    from $15,500
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG Meter Modix BIG Meter
    1010 x 1010 x 1010 mm
    from $13,500
    Request a Quote
  • Industry MAGNUM Industry MAGNUM
    1500 x 1200 x 1200 mm
    €159.000
    Request a Quote
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2023 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing
We serve cookies on this site to analyze traffic, remember your preferences, and optimize your experience.
Details
Close