REVISTA DEL LABORATORIO TECNOLÓGICO DEL URUGUAY Diseño, construcción y evaluación de un analizador autónomo in situ para la monitorización de los niveles de fósforo y nitrógeno en aguas superficiales. Primeros resultados Design, construction and evaluation of an in situ autonomous analyser for monitoring of phosphorus and nitrogen levels in surface waters. First results recibido: 15/10/2018 → aprobado: 7/11/2018 mknochen@fq.edu.uy Knochen, Moisés (1, 3); Roth, GuilleRMo (1, 3); González, Pablo

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... 1, 3); PéRez, nicolás (2, 3); Monzón, Pablo (2); Del castillo, MaRiana (2) (1) DePaRtaMento estRella caMPos, FacultaD De QuíMica, univeRsiDaD De la RePública, MonteviDeo, uRuGuay. (2) instituto De inGenieRía eléctRica, FacultaD De inGenieRía, univeRsiDaD De la RePública, MonteviDeo, uRuGuay. (3) GRuPo De instRuMentación y autoMatización en QuíMica analítica (GiaQa), FacultaD De QuíMica, univeRsiDaD De la RePública, MonteviDeo, uRuGuay. REVISTA DEL LABORATORIO TECNOLÓGICO DEL URUGUAY abstract A prototype of a low-cost automated analyser capable of in situ operation next to a water body is described. The analyser can determine levels of phosphorus (orthophosphate) and nitrogen (nitrate+nitrite), along with pH and temperature, transmitting the results to a remote station via wireless internet. Phosphorus and nitrogen determinations are carried out by means of photometric methods, implemented in a pulsed-flow system. For control and data acquisition the open-source Arduino platform of microcontrollers was used. The system runs on rechargeable batteries, with the possible support of a solar panel. Preliminary evaluation of the analytical methods carried out in the laboratory showed figures of merit fit for the purpose. A field evaluation is foreseen in the near future, where the analyser will be tested under real conditions. This type of instruments is considered to be potentially useful in environmental analysis.