Smartphone-based colorimetric device for automated chloramine monitoring in water
A compact, smartphone-integrated device that uses camera-based colorimetric analysis to automatically interpret chloramine paper test strips. Designed for continuous waterline monitoring, it improves accuracy over visual reading and eliminates waste flow, enabling easy home use for immunocompromised patients.
Overview
This solution is a smartphone-based colorimetric device designed for sensitive, automated detection of chloramine in household water. Chloramine is commonly used as a disinfectant in municipal water but poses health risks for immunocompromised patients, including those receiving dialysis or chemotherapy at home. While paper test strips offer a low-cost colorimetric method for chloramine detection, accurate visual interpretation is difficult for non-expert users. By leveraging the built-in color imaging sensor of a smartphone camera combined with an automatic test strip dispenser, this technology delivers accurate, easy-to-read results without requiring laboratory instruments or chemical reagents.
Technical specifications
- Smartphone camera-based color analysis enhances detection sensitivity beyond what is achievable by the naked eye, enabling accurate interpretation of subtle color changes on test strips.
- Automatic test strip dispenser designed for integration directly into the waterline, allowing continuous or on-demand sampling without manual handling.
- Companion mobile application performs automatic color analysis on the smartphone operating system, providing clear pass/fail or quantitative readouts for the user.
- Reagent-free detection achieved through colorimetric analysis on a solid substrate, eliminating the need for additional solution reagents and preventing waste water flow.
- Compact, low-cost form factor suitable for deployment in residential settings, particularly for home-hospital and immunocompromised patient populations.
Technology readiness level
The underlying colorimetric detection approach has been validated in prior laboratory work demonstrating smartphone-camera-based detection of heavy metal ions, including lead and mercury, at part-per-billion concentrations with a detection limit of 1.375 ppb. These results were comparable to state-of-the-art laboratory analytical instruments. The proposed project extends this validated method to chloramine monitoring and adds an integrated automatic strip dispenser. The full system, including the dispenser and chloramine-specific calibration, is at an early development stage, with an estimated one-year timeline to complete validation studies. The research team is seeking funding for equipment and key personnel to advance the technology toward a deployable prototype.
About University of Houston, Downtown
University of Houston–Downtown is a public, urban university within the University of Houston System, serving a diverse metropolitan student body and working professionals. Its location in the city’s business core gives companies easy access to faculty expertise, student talent, and on-campus labs for sponsored projects, internships, and capstone collaborations. Flexible engagement models—short courses, certificates, and customized contracts—help employers upskill teams and pilot solutions with minimal friction. Research activity is supported by competitive federal and state funding. A dedicated research administration office facilitates agreements, compliance, and IP management, coordinating commercialization pathways across the UH System when appropriate.
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