Contaminant detection device and method

Abstract

A device for measuring pH levels and contaminant concentration includes an electrode assembly that is electrically coupled to a control unit. The electrode assembly includes a first contact electrically coupled to a reference electrode, a second contact electrically coupled to a working electrode, and a third contact electrically coupled to a counter electrode. The working electrode may be modified to include a cysteine functionalized graphene oxide with polypyrrole nanocomposite. In operation, the control unit may apply a complex signal to the working electrode via the second contact in order to adhere and subsequently strip contaminant ions from the fluid sample to the working electrode. During this process, a current may be measured across the working electrode and the counter electrode to measure contaminant ion concentration. The pH of the fluid sample may also be determined by a current measured across the reference electrode and the counter electrode. In some examples, the pH may be used to calibrate the measured levels of the contaminant ions.