Colorimetric sensor array for versatile detection and discrimination of model analytes with environmental relevance

Abstract

In the current work, a rapid, simple, low-cost, and sensitive smartphone-based colorimetric sensor array coupled with pattern-recognition methods was proposed for the determination and differentiation of some organic and inorganic bases (i.e., OH−, CO32−, PO43−, NH3, ClO−, diethanolamine, triethanolamine) as model compounds. The sensing system has been designed based on color-sensitive dyes (Fuchsine, Giemsa, Thionine, and CoCl2) which were used as sensor elements. The color changes of a sensor array were observed by the naked eye. The color patterns were recorded using digital imaging in a three-dimensional (red, green, and blue) space and quantitatively analyzed with color calibration techniques. Distinctive colorimetric patterns for target bases via linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) were observed. The results indicated that the analytes related to each class (at the different concentration levels in the range of 0.001–1.0 mol L−1) were clustered together in the canonical discriminant plot and HCA dendrogram with high sensitivity and an overall precision of 85%. Furthermore, the first function factor of LDA correlated with the concentration of each target analyte in a correlation coefficient (R2) range of 0.864–0.996. These described procedures based on the colorimetric sensor array technique could be a promising candidate for practical applications in package technology and facile detection of pollutants.