Direct reading flame photometer using digital photography and image processing

Abstract

The work presents a new technique for the detection of percentage of electrolytes in a flame using digital photography and image processing. Various samples containing different concentrations of alkali metals like sodium and potassium are prepared and aspired in a flame photometer. The flame images are captured using a consumer grade digital camera of known resolution. The images for various concentrations are captured. By developing image processing algorithm the change in the flame colour is identified. Correlation between the colour and the concentration is developed using various analytical techniques. The results indicate that the image-based measurements agree with the corresponding known values within an error range of about ±5%.