Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PANDa (Portable ANalyser for Detection of metal micropollutants in water)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2019-08-01 al 2020-01-31
Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements. Their multiple industrial, agricultural, medical and technological applications have led to their wide distribution in the environment, including water bodies, raising concerns over their potential effects on human health. Klearia has developed PANDa, the first plug-and-play portable analyser for the detection of heavy metals in water. We have successfully developed a prototype for accurate arsenic detection (< 1ppb), fully automated, easy to use and with results available within two hours. Now, we aim at upgrading our prototype to detect the most common and harmful metalloids as well as organic pollutants and water indicators (pH, conductivity) in a single robust, quick, safe and cost-effective solution.
During these years, we have focussed on the development of sensors for the detection of arsenic at trace levels. The prototype was successfully validated by Danone and Suez, encouraging them to be beta-testers of the upgraded version of the analyser to be completed within the EIC Accelerator project. At commercial level, we established a strong value chain with trustworthy suppliers and seek for distributors outside Europe. We also identified proper communication and dissemination actions to engage water operators and other stakeholders. At financial level, we established our business model, set our production costs and selling price and performed financial projections for PANDa.
Current state-of-the-art methods for water quality monitoring can be classified in: i. High-end monitoring, consisting on taking samples and bring them to a laboratory to be analysed and ii. On-line monitoring, for continuous measurement of water quality. Although high-end monitoring is highly accurate, it is costly and results are available within a few weeks, so it is not possible to make quick decisions to safeguard public health and the environment. On the other hand, on-line monitoring systems require high maintenance. With PANDa analyser, we manage to get the same detection accuracy than in a lab but in real time, for immediate response. In addition, our technology will be adapted in order to be used for robust and cost-effective on-line monitoring for those water operators requiring it.