Nitrate sensor
Country of application:
Norway and UK
Scope of innovation
☐ Office work
☒ Production / Service supply process
Sector-specific
☒ Yes / please, specify sector(s):
☐ No (relevant for all sectors)
Description of the needs
Nitrate concentration in the soil refers to the amount of nitrate (NO3-) present. Nitrates are a form of nitrogen, which is an essential nutrient for plants. Nitrogen is required for the synthesis of amino acids, proteins, and DNA in plants, making it vital for their growth and development. Nitrates are one of the most readily absorbable forms of nitrogen for plants, and they primarily get into the soil through the decomposition of organic matter (like plant and animal waste), or through human-made fertilizers. However, an appropriate balance of nitrate is crucial. Too little nitrate can limit plant growth, leading to stunted development and yellowing leaves, a condition known as nitrogen deficiency. On the other hand, too much nitrate can lead to excessive vegetative growth at the expense of fruit or flower development. Furthermore, excessive nitrate in the soil can be harmful to the environment. It can leach into groundwater, contaminating it and making it unsafe for consumption due to potential health risks, like methemoglobinemia in infants (also known as “blue baby syndrome”) and potential carcinogenic effects. Excessive nitrate runoff into bodies of water can also lead to eutrophication, a process/form of pollution that that includes over-fertilization of water bodies, algae blooms, water deoxygenation, and fish deaths.
Monitoring nitrate levels in the soil is an essential aspect of sustainable farming and environmental conservation. Agricultural e.g., nitrate sensors for soil are thus important tools in agriculture. Agricultural sensors have revolutionized farming practices and economic landscapes. These sensors arm farmers with critical data, enabling them to adapt to environmental changes and optimize crop yields. They play a pivotal role in addressing the escalating demand for food by amplifying productivity while minimizing resource usage – including water, fertilizers, and seeds. By conserving resources and creating detailed field maps, nitrate sensors make sustainable farming a reality. For crops like grapes, which require constant monitoring to thrive, real-time crop sensing has become essential to successful cultivation.
Description of the solution
Zimmer and Peacock is a globally recognized ISO13485 certified developer and manufacturer, specializing in the creation of chemical and biochemical sensors. As such, ZP is a renowned company at the forefront of sustainable technology solutions and products. This involves sensor solutions for environmental monitoring, renewable energy technologies, sustainable healthcare diagnostics, eco-friendly materials and packaging, green electronics and IoT solutions, water purification and treatment, sustainable agriculture and food security and circular economy solutions. Biosensors are inherently sustainable because they support precise, targeted use of resources. In the context of agriculture, for instance, nitrate sensors can help farmers apply the exact amount of fertilizer needed, reducing waste, and preventing overuse which can lead to environmental harm. Nitrate is an essential part of modern agriculture, but it’s over application leads to environmental contamination. Hence, ZPs nitrate sensors may monitor nitrate in the soil designed for precision farming.
Soil sensor development
ZP offer ready-to-use soil sensing development services and possess some of the world’s most well-equipped commercial soil stacks. These stacks can measure a range of conditions, including light, temperature, and humidity. The soil stacks are designed to assess the impact of nutrients like Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K), facilitating the development of innovative sensing modalities. The soil stacks are integrated with the Djuli Cloud, enabling real-time data access for their partners.
Additionally, the ZP Accelerator platform can enhance these development efforts. The Accelerator Platform is a technology platform able to accelerate collaborators out of the lab and into the field using in house technologies and capabilities, including: screen printed electrodes (SPE), vapour deposition, immunosensor, enzyme sensors, ion-selective electrodes, electronics, app development, electrochemical assay development, Cloud Computing, AI, data sciences, etc.
By incorporating Artificial Intelligence into application development, ZP can speed up the process of sensor development in ways that were not possible before.
At ZP they describe their technology stack as sensor to the Application Programming Interface (API), which means they are part of the collection of electrochemical signals and then movement of that data to the Cloud. Their Djuli database is a powerful Cloud Scientific Database that is optimized for electrochemical data, biosensor data and In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) data:
• Data Processing
• Data Visualization
• Data Sharing
• Data Transfer via API calls
• Data storage
Biosensors: Nitrate sensor
ZP has launched ZP AgTech. One of the outcomes from a large sensors’ development programme at Zimmer and Peacock. This is a nitrate sensor for detecting nitrate in water and agricultural applications. Thus, ZP have launched the world’s first commercially available nitrate biosensor. This nitrate electrochemical biosensor fits alongside ZP’s phosphate and potassium sensors.
The nitrate sensors may be used with the OmniSense platform (the drive electronics). SenseItAll (SIA) is a platform for rapidly achieving a minimally viable product (MVP) in sensing and assays where electrochemical detection is at the heart of the technology. Below is a description of the workflow and developments:
• Sensors or biosensors are recommended by ZP for optimal results.
• The sensors are inserted into the Bluetooth-enabled meter that connects to an Android Smart Device.
• Samples are applied onto the sensor.
• An app on the smartphone identifies the assay or sensor and instructs the meter accordingly.
• The meter then conducts the assay, sending the raw signal to the app via Bluetooth.
• The operator can easily upload the data to a cloud database, Djuli, by pressing a button on the app. For this, the smart device should have a connection to the cloud, such as via Wi-Fi.
• The raw data is stored in the cloud, where they proceed with two primary phases:
1. PHASE TRAINING – This phase involves developing an algorithm that correlates raw signal with the ‘truth’, the definition of which depends on the specifics of the programme.
2. IMPLEMENTATION PHASE – The findings of the training phase are incorporated into the cloud, enabling the user to utilize the technology independently of ZP, though further improvements can be made if required.
Furthermore, ZP provide a pack of calibration solutions for testing nitrate sensors.
e.g., the Nitrate Calibration Solutions Kit – ZPCH100000-00139. The product allows the client to test the nitrate sensor.
The kit contains different concentration solutions: 0.3 mM, 3 mM, 30 mM and 300 mM – 10 ml at each concentration.
The Agrisenze project
With the developments and advancements of nitrogen sensors, Zimmer and Peacock is involved with the Agrisenze project, a research and innovation project aiming to transform agriculture by creating a monitoring system to measure soil nitrogen content. This innovation empowers farmers with data about nitrate levels, optimizing fertilizer usage, minimizing costs and environmental impact. This data is also valuable for environmental policy decisions. Agrisenze aims to create an advanced real-time system for soil nitrate monitoring at various depths, promoting responsible fertilizer usage. This initiative stems from a collaboration between Zimmer and Peacock and Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL), which advanced electrochemical technology for nitrate sensing. Presently, Agrisenze is in its early stages, exploring design concepts. The multidisciplinary team, including engineers, scientists, IoT specialists, and a business developer, are defining the system architecture and directing the development process. Recognizing the importance of early stakeholder involvement, the team is seeking strategies to identify and validate stakeholder needs in the early stages of development, mindful of typical SME constraints. Agrisenze, deeply rooted in Zimmer and Peacock’s collaboration with PBL, signifies an important case study for future technology development. It emphasizes the need for linking advanced technology with market and customer understanding, and the role of early stakeholder involvement in product development. Thus, Agrisenze represents more than a tool for farmers. It is a model for future technology development, demonstrating the harmony of advanced technology, stakeholder engagement, and environmental sustainability that Zimmer and Peacock strive to foster.
7. Description of the effect
Zimmer and Peacock provide a variety of sensors for different applications, including nitrate sensors. The nitrate sensors can play a crucial role in a number of fields such as environmental monitoring, agriculture, and water treatment processes. In agriculture, they can be used to monitor nitrate levels in soil, which can inform farmers about the need for fertilization and help optimize crop yields while minimizing overuse of fertilizers. In water treatment, nitrate sensors can be critical in ensuring that treated water is safe for consumption or release into the environment, by alerting to high nitrate levels that can be harmful to human health. In environmental monitoring, these sensors can help detect the level of nitrates in bodies of water, which is crucial for identifying pollution levels and potential risks to aquatic life.
In terms of agriculture, regardless of whether farmers are in the USA, Europe, or India, many are adding ample nutrients to the soil with the intention of nourishing roots, thereby increasing biomass. However, the challenge lies in the fact that real-time nitrate levels in the soil are rarely measured, which leads to excess nitrates washing into local water sources. This surplus can thus result in eutrophication. Excess nitrates can also seep into the aquifer and drinking water. Beyond local pollution, over-fertilization contributes to global issues as well. Fertilizer production accounts for 1.2% of the world’s CO2 emissions, and 1% of global energy consumption is tied to fertilizer production. This pollution issue is two-fold: pollution from fertilizer production, and pollution from uncontrolled use, as the inability to measure nitrate levels means we cannot control their impact.
Although soil nitrates coexist with other ions like ammonium, urea, potassium, and phosphate, ZP tests have shown that these do not interfere with the sensor’s performance. The issue ZP aim to address involves enhancing the efficiency of fertilizer application, immerse it into the soil for continuous nitrate measurements, and leverage the Internet of Things to relay this information to the farmer. This way, excessive fertilizer use may be prevented.
Overall, the technology solutions offered by Zimmer and Peacock have a multi-faceted sustainable effect. From environmental monitoring and renewable energy advancements to eco-friendly healthcare diagnostics and circular economy initiatives, their offerings contribute to mitigating environmental challenges and fostering a more sustainable future across various sectors. Through their innovation and dedication to sustainability, Zimmer and Peacock exemplify how technology can play a vital role in addressing global environmental concerns and promoting a greener, more sustainable world.
Company/companies that developed/implemented/offer the innovation
Zimmer and Peacock
Zimmer and Peacock is an ISO13485 certified contract developer and manufacturer of electrochemical biosensors and in-vitro diagnostics (IVDs). Headquartered in the United Kingdom, the company also has operations in Norway and the United States.
ZP has the complete technology stack from sensor to Cloud, with their services including: sensors, electronics, Cloud computing, data sciences and Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance (RAQA). ZP offers a distinctive blend of products and services and specialize in integrating their engineering services into every product they provide. This unique approach has made them adept at assisting entrepreneurs in achieving commercial success and market penetration. Their offerings are a fusion of tangible products and intangible services, characterized by comprehensive advice, industry experience, and dedicated attention. These attributes are intrinsic specifications that define their product range. Irrespective of whether clients procure ZP’s products or contract their engineering services, they receive a strategic roadmap designed to guide them towards success.
In addition to manufacturing, ZP also offers contract research and development services. This includes helping other companies or researchers develop and commercialize their sensor ideas, a process that involves aspects such as ideation, feasibility studies, prototyping, and even scaling up for production. Zimmer and Peacock maintain a collaborative approach to their work, partnering with academics, small companies, and multinational organizations alike to bring their sensor technologies to market. They also offer a range of off-the-shelf products including sensors, readers, and development kits.
Contact:
Address:
Zimmer & Peacock AS
Nedre vei 8,
3183 Horten
Additional information