Hyperspectral imaging system for rapid acrylamide detection in drinking water

Overview

This solution applies hyperspectral imaging to the detection of acrylamide in drinking water, addressing the need for faster, more accessible water safety monitoring. Acrylamide is a regulated contaminant of concern, and current detection typically relies on laboratory-based chemical analyses that are time-consuming and resource-intensive. By adapting hyperspectral imaging, which has already shown success in food product monitoring and underwater water quality assessment, the approach aims to achieve a limit of quantification below 0.5 ppb with a testing time of under 15 minutes.

The system is designed for practical deployment in water quality testing workflows, offering a rapid screening alternative that can complement or reduce dependence on traditional benchtop chemical methods. Potential applications include drinking water monitoring, environmental water quality assessment, and industrial process water screening.

Technical specifications

Core technology:

• Hyperspectral imaging combined with machine learning-based correlation models
• Custom underwater imaging tube with a transparent glass window to enable non-contact imaging of liquid samples
• Mechanical housing designed to secure the hyperspectral camera and prevent direct contact with water

Key features:

• Rapid detection capability targeting under 15 minutes per sample
• Target limit of quantification below 0.5 ppb acrylamide in drinking water
• Non-contact optical measurement using reflectance data
• Machine learning algorithms that correlate hyperspectral reflectance with chemically validated ground truth concentrations
• Adaptable design drawing on proven hyperspectral imaging performance in food and underwater environments

Validation approach:

• Preparation of drinking water samples at varying acrylamide concentrations
• Ground truth concentration determination using established benchtop chemical methods
• Statistical and machine learning correlation models linking spectral data to chemical measurements

Technology readiness level

This technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development. Hyperspectral imaging has been validated in related contexts, including acrylamide detection in food products and water quality monitoring in lakes, but has not yet been applied to acrylamide detection in drinking water. Future work involves building a dedicated underwater hyperspectral imaging system, fabricating the mechanical tube housing, and generating calibration models through controlled experiments. Additional validation, optimization, and field testing will be required before commercial deployment.