Indonesian Journal of Chemistry
Vol 26, No 1 (2026)

Development of a Low-Cost Spectrophotometer for Protein Determination Using the Lowry Method

Salsabilla, Lestha Aurel (Unknown)
Hermawan, Dadan (Unknown)
Diastuti, Hartiwi (Unknown)
Anggraeni, Mekar Dwi (Unknown)
Fatoni, Amin (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
24 Jan 2026

Abstract

Affordable and accessible laboratory equipment is increasingly crucial, particularly in resource-limited settings. This research presents the development of a cost-effective spectrophotometer using an Arduino microcontroller and a TSL2591 light sensor to quantify protein concentration via the Lowry method. The device employs a 750 nm LED and a 3D-printed PLA case to house the components. Casein was used for calibration, yielding a linear detection range of 100–700 ppm with a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.9991). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 18.05 and 60.16 ppm, respectively. Precision was confirmed with a HORRAT value of 0.982. Accuracy was validated using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, which showed no significant difference between the fabricated device and a commercial UV-vis spectrophotometer (p = 0.779). These findings support the reliability and reproducibility of the device for protein quantification. The project’s open-source nature encourages further development and application in educational, clinical, and field settings. This innovation supports the development of accessible, low-cost biochemical analysis tools.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijc

Publisher

Subject

Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Bioengineering Chemistry

Description

Indonesian Journal of Chemistry is an International, peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes original research articles, review articles, as well as short communication in all areas of chemistry including applied chemistry. The journal is accredited by The Ministry of Research, Technology ...