Online Monitoring of Microorganisms Using Real-time Sensors

摘要

Recent development of real-time water quality sensors can bernimplemented to detect water contamination. In our research, thernthresholds of three real time water quality sensors werernevaluated in response to Bacillus thuringiensis, which is a Gramrnpositive, spore forming bacteria. The sensors included were HACHrnGuardian Blue Monitoring Platform; JMAR BioSentry; and S::CANrnspectro::lyser technology. Detection capabilities were examinedrnby spiking Bacillus thuringiensis spores either in deionized (DI) orrntap water with concentrations ranging from 102 to 105 colonyrnforming units (cfu)/ml. Most sensors were responsive to anrnincrease in B.thuringiensis concentrations and below this range,rnsensors provided signals undistinguishable from noise. The datarnso far effectively shows that evaluated real-time sensors havernability to detect microbial contaminants and thus be utilized asrnpart of a contaminant warning system for monitoring intrusionrnevents in water distribution systems.