A team of researchers from the National University of Córdoba developed a chip-sized device that allows measuring the presence of arsenic in groundwater with just a single drop. The invention, which has already won an award at the N16 Innova competition, represents a key advancement for rural communities and areas without access to drinking water.
A small sensor, similar to a cell phone chip but slightly larger, can change the way arsenic is detected in water. The device, created by researchers from the Institute of Research in Physical Chemistry of Córdoba (INFIQC), affiliated with the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the UNC and CONICET, allows determining in just three minutes if a sample of groundwater contains dangerous levels of this contaminant.
The development was presented on the program “Viva la Radio” by Dr. Santiago Palma, Secretary of Innovation and Technological Linkage of the UNC, along with Drs. Marcela Rodríguez and María Dolores Rubianes, who lead the project together with the thesis student Diana Reartes.
How the device that detects arsenic works
The sensor, of national manufacture, was modified by the research team to specifically recognize arsenic. “With a minimal drop of 50 microliters placed on this chip, the arsenic content in the water can be selectively determined,” explained María Dolores Rubianes.
The modification made to the sensor constitutes the industrial secret of the patent that the researchers are processing. The device is capable of analyzing complex samples without other water components interfering with the detection.
An invisible danger threatening health
Chronic consumption of arsenic above the levels allowed by the World Health Organization leads to serious health consequences. It causes cancer, cardiological and renal disorders, and in the case of pregnant women, neurological diseases in children, warned Marcela Rodríguez. “It is a latent invisible danger that must be paid attention to.”
Groundwater is the main carrier of this contaminant, unlike surface water. The team validated the sensor in two localities in Córdoba: General Levalle and Recreo, where the results matched official analyses.
From university to the field: concrete applications
The portable sensor represents a significant advantage over traditional detection methods. Conventional methods require a larger volume of water, transporting samples in suitable conditions to the laboratory, expensive equipment, and trained personnel, noted Rodríguez. This device allows for economical measurements right where contamination is suspected.
The applications are multiple: from real estate developments in areas without a drinking water network to rural communities that depend on underground aquifers for human, animal consumption, and irrigation. Arsenic accumulates in the muscles of livestock that drink contaminated water, then passing into the human food chain.
The path to commercialization
The project received an award at the N16 Innova competition of the UNC and now faces two challenges. On one hand, the possibility of turning it into a commercial kit with the help of an investing company, explained Santiago Palma. “In the short term, offering the service from the university’s transfer unit for municipalities, rural settlements, or urban developers.”
The first stage, once the patent and funding are obtained, targets governmental organizations and municipalities. In a second phase, its commercialization for domestic use is not ruled out.
Public science at the service of the community
The researchers, graduates of the National University of Córdoba, represent the talent formed in public education. This development was made within the framework of Diana Reartes’ Thesis, which involves many years of work, highlighted Rubianes.
The portable sensor not only detects contamination but also allows for immediate decisions: not consuming the water, avoiding risks for animals, or restricting recreational uses. In a country where vast regions depend on groundwater, this invention becomes a democratic tool to protect the health of the most vulnerable communities.
