Development of Low-Cost Arduino-Based Equipment for Analytical and Educational Applications

Abstract

A modern microcontroller Arduino platform is often used to create electronic devices with the ability to receive signals from various digital and analog sensors, to perform further primary processing of information to be transferred to a computer, as well as to control various devices. This versatility makes it possible to create low-cost equipment for analytical and educational applications on these platforms. As an example, this white paper describes the benefits of using Arduino microcontroller boards to create two powerful and inexpensive interfaces for computers and laboratory equipment for automating analytical chemistry laboratories. The first one is a device for carrying out coulometric titration in galvanostatic mode with potentiometric or amperometric indication of the titration end point. The instrument is used to determine the concentration of individual substances and the total antioxidant capacity of food systems. Another development is a device for determining the water activity of food systems with a capacitive sensor for determining relative humidity. Both types of measurement equipment use Arduino One or Nano microcontrollers in combination with various controls for analog signal measurement, A/D conversion, and indication. The measured values are monitored in real time by transferring information to a personal computer via a USB port under the control of the developed software. The effective use of the developed devices is presented on the example of measurements of foodstuff samples when obtaining validated data.

Keywords

• Arduino board
• coulometric titration
• water activity
• foodstuff
• low-cost equipment
• laboratory automation