Low cost 235 nm ultra-violet light-emitting diode-based absorbance detector for application in a portable ion chromatography system for nitrite and nitrate monitoring.

•Low-cost, 235 nm UV-LED based detector fabricated using rapid prototyping.•LED operated at low current within detector with very low stray light observed.•Selective, high sensitivity direct detection of nitrite and nitrate.•UV detector for use with portable ion chromatography for water analysis.•Comparable analytical performance compared to accredited instrumentation.