Smart-Chemical-LAB is a project to develop an interdisciplinary, sustainable and portable analytical chemistry laboratory combining resources from the fields of Analytical Chemistry, Food Technology, Optics, Forensics, Chemometrics, Environmental, and Cultural Heritage. Smart-Chemical-LAB aims to develop sustainable analytical methods, combining signals from portable instrumentation and specifically designed 3D-printed analytical Arduino-based devices and smartphone data acquisition. The fast on-site data acquisition process, permits real-time decisions to be made for problem-solving in areas that, though different, share similar problems, and that would benefit from the reduction in reagent consumption, the use of portable equipment, non-invasive and non-destructive techniques, based in low-cost but precise and robust technology.

The transfer of the project’s outcomes to public and private institutions will benefit and reduce costs in quality and safety food controls and reduce food waste due to inappropriate decisions during farming and harvesting. Moreover, the application of such direct, in-field and portable technology in the forensic sector will reduce the risks related to the consumption of psychoactive substances and will provide very useful tools for law enforcement interventions. Thanks to the collaboration with different museums, the methods developed in the field of Cultural Heritage valorization and conservation can be transferred to society in general and to Valencian Museums in particular.

Regarding the applications of environmental analysis, the need to know the levels of contaminants to keep the environment safe and clean is a social demand. Having in situ, simple and quick procedures to control the quality of water, soil and crops will enable decision making in real time, not only to minimize the content of contaminants found, but can also help to counteract the micronutrient deficiency in crops.