Development challenges for field-deployable water pollution analyzers targeting molecular organic/inorganic contaminants

This paper addresses the challenges associated with water quality analysis in field conditions. It highlights that the contact-based method of laser Raman spectroscopy enables both qualitative and quantitative analysis of molecular pollutants – dissolved, undissolved, organic, and inorganic. The number of pollutants analyzed and the accuracy of the results obtained using a field analyzer depend on the pre- established databases of pure molecular samples. For quantitative analysis, a chemometric approach is proposed, ensuring all studies are conducted under strictly identical conditions with a pre-calculated analyzer parameter – a coefficient dependent on the experimental conditions. The practical implementation of a field-based water sample quality analyzer is discussed. This system is based on the analysis of Raman scattering and laser-induced fluorescence spectra and accounts for contamination by organic and biological inclusions.