A novel free PhotoMetrix UVC is proposed for both the operation of a universal serial bus video camera (UVC) and multivariate image analysis, allowing a full solution for point-of-use analysis. A UVC was placed in an open-source 3D-printed chamber illuminated by a white light-emitting diode (LED) with controlled intensity of light. The digital images captured were converted into red, green, and blue (RGB) histograms, and regression models were used within the app. As a proof-of-concept, four adulterants in raw milk samples were determined. The coefficient of determination (R2Cal) for all models was higher than 0.99, and no significant differences (p < 0.05) between the measured and predicted values were identified. The root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) and root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) were satisfactory, with values less than 0.1 and 0.7 g L-1, respectively. The recoveries ranged from 90 to 120% in spiked milk samples, and partial least square (PLS) models showed root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.28, 0.33, 0.48 and 0.39 g L-1 for chloride, hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and starch, respectively. The PhotoMetrix UVC app was feasible for the colorimetric chemical analysis using a smartphone improving the applicability, mobility, and usability.

This article describes the development of a mobile colorimetric analysis tool. The application, called PhotoMetrix, employs the techniques of simple linear correlation for univariate analysis and principal components analysis (PCA) for multivariate exploratory analysis. The image data are captured by the main camera of the device and converted into red, green and blue (RGB) histograms. As regards the application, the iron determinations were performed in vitamin supplements (univariate module) and differentiation of banknotes was performed by PCA (multivariate module). For the iron determinations, three samples of vitamins at concentrations of 14, 40 and 50 mg of iron per tablet were tested and the results were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) compared to the reference method. The differentiation of banknotes was performed on Brazilian and Argentinean banknotes. The results showed clustering of the same types of banknotes, and through the loadings graph it was possible to observe the variables through the formation of clusters.

Tannins from trees are an abundant renewable resource. The use of tannins is safe for the environment and human health, making it possible to develop environmentally friendly products, such as adhesives, flocculant agents for water treatment, flame retardant foams and anticorrosives. In this study, a methodology was developed for the identification of six commercial tannin extracts (chestnut, valonea, tara, myrobalan, quebracho and black wattle) using digital images on mobile devices. The identification of the extracts was based on principal component analysis using the PhotoMetrix® mobile application. In the evaluation of the principal components, it was possible to define the separation between the six classes of extracts by color evaluation, according to the extract origin. In the analysis of PC1 × PC2, black wattle was very close to quebracho and chestnut was close to valonea; these extracts are chemically similar. The methodology developed for the analysis of tannin extracts obeys the principles of green chemistry requiring no reagents, and is fast, non-destructive and inexpensive.

The objective of this work was to develop a free access exploratory data analysis software application for academic use that is easy to install and can be handled without user-level programming due to extensive use of chemometrics and its association with applications that require purchased licenses or routines. The developed software, called Chemostat, employs Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), intervals Principal Component Analysis (iPCA), as well as correction methods, data transformation and outlier detection. The data can be imported from the clipboard, text files, ASCII or FT-IR Perkin-Elmer “.sp” files. It generates a variety of charts and tables that allow the analysis of results that can be exported in several formats. The main features of the software were tested using midinfrared and near-infrared spectra in vegetable oils and digital images obtained from different types of commercial diesel. In order to validate the software results, the same sets of data were analyzed using Matlab© and the results in both applications matched in various combinations. In addition to the desktop version, the reuse of algorithms allowed an online version to be provided that offers a unique experience on the web. Both applications are available in English.