Autonomous device for real time detection of lead traces in drinking water – aQuaLead

In Europe, local authorities allocate considerable resources (several tens of billions of euros per year) to monitor water distribution networks in order to provide good quality drinking water to customers. However, there is a growing concern over the scale of problems caused by the presence of Pb in drinking waters. Therefore, a sensor system capable of measuring in-situ and in real time the presence of heavy metals in drinking water would be of great interest to water facilities. Electrochemical sensors are excellent candidates when it comes to environmental monitoring thanks to their selectivity and sensitivity, to the relatively low-cost of their instrumentation and their low power consumption. Nevertheless, despite the extensive scientific literature on heavy metal detection by electrochemical means, there is no commercial on-line system that has reached market due to important challenges remaining.
The aQuaLead project will address two key issues that have prevented in-situ monitoring of Pb concentration: (i) the absence of repeatable and controlled experimental conditions, and (ii) the biofouling of electrochemical sensors. The objectives of the aQuaLead project are to develop a new generation of electrochemical sensors capable of detecting down to 10 ppb of Pb in drinking waters, without the addition of chemicals, thanks to the electrochemical optimization of the pH during analysis. A compact instrumentation capable of in-situ monitoring with electrical autonomy and wireless communication will be developed. Finally, an electrochemical strategy will be designed to offer sensor surface protection against biofouling.