Digital Color Reader

We have a patented non-instrumental microrespirometer. This device can detect meaningful changes in a surface gas chamber. It was developed to determine carbon dioxide evolution rates of solid or liquid samples at L/h levels accurately and rapidly. The microrespirometer is based on the simple principle of acid–base titration between an alkaline solution and CO2, with a color indicator to indicate the end point. We need to develop a digital color reader (using an diode array detector assembly) that contains a compartment that will house the reaction chamber within the DCR. Using this approach will permit very rapid measurement of CO2 within the alkaline solution, at any time during incubation. The alkaline solution along with the DOD should closely obey Beer–Lambert’s optical law over a wide range of concentrations of CO2 that can directly read the color intensity from the reaction chamber. Steps of the procedure: The microresprometer consists of a transparent reaction chamber and a sample vial. The reaction chamber is a small alkaline trap (total headspace, 6–7 mL) with a septum hole. The size of a sample vial may vary depending on the need (vials of 25, 30, 40, and 75 mL). The reaction chamber and the sample vial are coupled through a standard threaded screw and septum liner to form a closed headspace. Alkaline solution can be injected into the reaction chamber with a syringe. The alkaline solution absorbs the CO2 in the headspace. The indicator in the alkaline solution changes from a deep to a faint blue when the alkaline solution is consumed by CO2. Currently, the solution has to be pre-shaken before the color can be analyzed. The purpose of this device is to read the color of the solution after it has been shaken for several minutes. Attached are two pictures: 1) The file titled "test kit" is the microrespirometer we are trying to develop into a portable digital device. This image includes the microrespirometer in a shaker used to mix the testing solution. 2) The file titled "spectrophotometer" is an example of a product that was developed for a different application; however, the product's design could be similar to what we want.