Project Nira creates an affordable (₹2500), portable impedance-based sensor to detect microplastics (<5mm) in water. No ₹10L spectrometers needed. Field-ready for rural schools, communities, citizen scientists.
Hardware: ESP32-S3 + ADS131M08 24-bit ADC + 316L electrodes + IP67 enclosure. Firmware: ESP-IDF with BLE/WiFi. Build: 90min soldering.
Project Nira is an open-hardware initiative to develop an affordable and portable system for detecting microplastics in water. Instead of relying on expensive lab equipment, we are exploring impedance-based sensing as a low-cost method to detect the presence of microplastic particles.
Microplastics (particles smaller than 5 mm) are now found in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and even drinking water. However, detecting them usually requires:
- Advanced spectroscopy machines
- Lab sample preparation
- Trained specialists
This makes regular monitoring nearly impossible for rural areas, small institutions, and community groups.
Project Nira aims to design a device that is:
- Low-cost
- Portable
- Built using easily available components
- Repairable and modular
- Fully open-source
We are currently exploring how changes in electrical impedance can indicate the presence of suspended micro-plastic particles in water. The goal is to create a practical, field-deployable tool rather than a lab-bound equipment.
