In-line monitoring of chemical-analysis processes using Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are very promising tools in the advanced automation of chemical-analysis processes. Basically, they are formed by many small devices – called sensor nodes or motes – that can obtain information from the surrounding area using appropriate transducers, and communicate it by suitable wireless-transmission systems.In this article, we study both the application of WSN technology to analytical chemistry and the new research fields for analytical chemistry opened up by the success of WSN applications. A basic “chemical-applied” description of WSNs is followed by the reasons for their implementation and their use in chemical-analysis processes, and comments on the most relevant contributions developed so far. Finally, this article also deals with future trends in this field.Key research challenges to be addressed to deliver remote, wireless, chemosensing systems include the development of low-cost, low-consumption sensors.

► There is growing interest in Wireless Sensor Networks applied in analytical chemistry.
► WSNs can benefit from advances in developing increasingly better sensors.
► WSNs may open a new era in the field of in-line monitoring.
► Energy consumption of sensors must be significantly reduced for applications to WSNs.