Low-cost electrochemical detection of arsenic in the groundwater of Guanajuato state, central Mexico using an open-source potentiostat

A low-cost, open-source potentiostat based on Arduino technology has been developed to accurately detect arsenic in groundwater at parts-per-billion levels. This method significantly outperforms traditional colorimetric test strips, reducing median error from -50% to +2.9%, precision uncertainties from ±25% to ±4.9%, and eliminating false negatives (50% with test strips vs. 0% with the potentiostat) when compared to the World Health Organization's 10 μg L-1 limit. The study, conducted in arsenic-contaminated groundwaters of Guanajuato, Mexico, used gold electrodes (screen-printed and microwire) with anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), achieving a low detection limit of 0.7 μg L-1. This approach offers a cost-effective solution for in-house arsenic analysis by research groups and NGOs, providing superior quantitative data.

Bullen, J. C., Dworsky, L. N., Eikelboom, M., Carriere, M., Alvarez, A., & Salaün, P. (2022). Low-cost electrochemical detection of arsenic in the groundwater of Guanajuato state, central Mexico using an open-source potentiostat. Plos One, 17(1), e0262124. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262124