A simple method for water discrimination based on an light emitting diode (LED) photometer

This work describes the use of a multi-LED photometer for discrimination of mineral water samples, employing chromogenic reagents and chemometric techniques. Forty-five water samples (including 7 different brands of mineral water and samples of deionised, distilled and tap waters) were analysed in a monosegmented flow system, using three different chromogenic reagents (murexide, PAR and eriochrome black T) in a pH 10.0 NH 3/NH 4 + buffer in separate injections. Measurements were performed at 470, 500, 525, 562, 590, 612, 636 and 654 nm. Analyses were carried out using PCA, employing data sets including absorbance values obtained with one, two or all three reagents, which comprise 8, 16 or 24 variables, respectively. The best result was obtained with the data set from murexide and eriochrome black T, providing a clear distinction between 9 groups (distilled and deionised waters were classified in the same group). Based on the loading values, it was possible to select four wavelengths (470, 500, 590 and 654 nm) that provided a similar discrimination. With the use of these four LED, an HCA was performed, providing discrimination between 8 groups at a similarity level of 0.88. A model based on SIMCA allowed correctly classifying 94% of the samples. The discrimination between different groups is due to the metal ion contents in the water samples, mainly calcium and magnesium. Therefore, the use of common complexing reagents, such as murexide and erichrome black T, a multi-LED photometer and chemometric techniques provide an easy and simple method for water discrimination.