PROJECT DESCRIPTION & GOALS

The NITRISENS project aims to develop a method for manufacturing of a portable system for nitrite monitoring in soil based on an innovative electrochemical sensor inserted in a 3D printed soil solution extractor.

1. To manufacture of a new costeffective and robust SPE sensor integrated in a 3Dprinted soil solution extraction system for nitrite determination in soil;
2. To design and manufacture of an wireless portable detector for nitrite sensor determination in soil using the new nitrite sensors;
3. To demonstrate the functionality of the nitrite monitoring system for the fast and precise monitoring of nitrite in soil, as well as the soil nitrification process.

The integrated platform for onfield measuring of nitrite directly in soil which will be developed through NITRISENS project responds to the urgent need of a tool for soil nitrification monitoring and controlling in realtime. Market impact/benefits: realtime monitoring of soil pollution; reducing of amount of Nfertilizers; introducing on the market of costeffective tools for precision agriculture strategies; widening the range of products of the SMEs involved in project.

Specific objectives of the project are:

• To manufacture of a new costeffective and robust SPE sensor integrated in a 3Dprinted soil solution extraction system for nitrite determination in soil;
• To design and manufacture of an wireless portable detector for nitrite sensor determination in soil using the new nitrite sensors;
• To demonstrate the functionality of the nitrite monitoring system for the fast and precise monitoring of nitrite in soil, as well as the soil nitrification process.

INNOVATION REGARDING CURRENT STATEOFTHEART

Nowadays, there are numerous analytical assays proposed for nitrite quantification which encompass sophisticated and centralized techniques such as ion chromatography, polarography, capillary electrophoresis, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GCMS) or fluorescence spectroscopy. However, most of these analytical methods have shown important limitations such as sample pretreatment, susceptibility to matrix interferences, insufficient detection limits, long time of analysis and, more important, lack of portability and of ability to insitu nitrite determination.

PARTNERS

For this project, our partners are

ICECHIM Bucharest Romania

ECONIRV SRL Romania

Metrohm Dropsens SL Spain

ACTIVITIES IN 2020

1.1.3 Studying and identifying the most suitable support for 2D printing of electroactive materials.

ACTIVITIES IN 2021

2.1.3 Assembling and developing the support for printing/screen printing the innovative nitrite sensor.

2.2.2 Characterization of the materials used for support and optimization of the sensor's electrical configuration.

2.3.3 Manufacturing some lysimeters from different materials, with various shapes, for the nitrite sensor integration.

2.4.2 Designing a wireless system for the control of one or more portable detectors connected to the nitrite sensors integrated into the suction lysimeter.

RESULTS