A novel low-cost plug-and-play multi-spectral LED based fluorometer, with application to chlorophyll detection

In this paper a novel low-cost multi-spectral optical fluorometer is presented and evaluated. The device uses a range of LEDs in the blue and violet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and a mini-spectrometer to detect the emitted fluorescence in the UV to IR spectrum region. Custom built electronics and software were designed to control the system and the components were housed in bespoke 3D printed parts. A number of known fluorophores were tested to determine the capabilities of the fluorometer. Application of the device is demonstrated for the detection of chlorophyll a (Chl a) from laboratory grown algae and from environmental samples while analytical performance is established using both in vivo and extracted Chl a fluorescence and by comparison with a benchtop fluorometer. Low-cost multispectral optical fluorometer for in vivo and in vitro Chl a detection and quantifictaion.

Automated summary

This paper presents and evaluates a novel low-cost multi-spectral optical fluorometer. The device uses LEDs in the blue and violet regions and a mini-spectrometer to detect emitted fluorescence in the UV to IR spectrum. Custom-built electronics and software control the system, housed in 3D printed parts. The capabilities of the fluorometer were tested using known fluorophores and compared to a benchtop fluorometer. The application of the device for chlorophyll a detection in laboratory-grown algae and environmental samples is demonstrated.