TY - JOUR
T1 - Microbial potentiometric sensor
T2 - A new approach to longstanding challenges
AU - Burge, Scott R.
AU - Hristovski, Kiril D.
AU - Burge, Russell G.
AU - Hoffman, David A.
AU - Saboe, Daniel
AU - Chao, Peng Fei
AU - Taylor, Evan
AU - Koenigsberg, Stephen S.
N1 - Funding Information:
This Material is based upon work supported the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research under Grant No. DE-SC0013194 SBIR Project “Automated Monitoring of Subsurface Microbial Methabolism with Graphite Electrodes”.
Funding Information:
This Material is based upon work supported the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research under Grant No. DE-SC0013194 SBIR Project ?Automated Monitoring of Subsurface Microbial Methabolism with Graphite Electrodes?. Special gratitude to Prof. Thomas Sale from Colorado State University for his assistance and discussions that led to a better understanding of the technology. Special gratitude to Ms. Michell Peppers for her help with the illustrations and administrative support. Special gratitude to Mr. Robert Harding for the design and fabrication of the electronics used in this project. Gratitude is expressed to Mr. Henry MacVittie for providing help and access to the batch wastewater treatment plant.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2020/11/10
Y1 - 2020/11/10
N2 - The underlying hypothesis of this study is that simple potentiometric measurements between sensing electrodes and a shared reference electrode - Microbial Potentiometric Sesnor (MPS) system - can be employed in a long-term, continuous mode of operation to resolve the spatial and temporal changes in environmental systems. To address the hypothesis, (1) a conceptual description of the MPS system and its postulated principle of operation are provided; (2) the MPS system performance is documented under controlled laboratory conditions; and (3) the capabilities of the MPS system are documented under quiescent and dynamic field condition. In a laboratory setting, the variability among different MPS signals was insignificant confirming the postulated high accuracy and reproducibility of the sensor performance. It also demonstrated statistically significant correlations with dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) sensors, while showing capabilities of operating under anoxic and anaerobic conditions. Regardless of their locations in the model wetland system, three MPS sensors functioned without interruption and cleaning for a period >2 years, and thus demonstrating long-term durability of the MPS technology. In real batch-wastewater treatment facility, the deployed MPS system signals were able to describe the organic carbon trends and correlate with each treatment phase in a cycle. Data reproducibility and reliability exceeded the expectations better describing the carbon treatment levels than the DO and ORP sensors (p < 4.4 × 10−162 vs phase adjusted p < 3.0 × 10−58). While MPS signals correlate with specific parameters that describe the local process or environments, it is more prudent to employ both the magnitude and pattern of a composite signal like the MPS signal describe the change to reflect any shift in the local environment. When compared to a baseline pattern, this change in signal magnitude and pattern reveals important information that can be employed to tailor and optimize any condition or process which involves microorganisms.
AB - The underlying hypothesis of this study is that simple potentiometric measurements between sensing electrodes and a shared reference electrode - Microbial Potentiometric Sesnor (MPS) system - can be employed in a long-term, continuous mode of operation to resolve the spatial and temporal changes in environmental systems. To address the hypothesis, (1) a conceptual description of the MPS system and its postulated principle of operation are provided; (2) the MPS system performance is documented under controlled laboratory conditions; and (3) the capabilities of the MPS system are documented under quiescent and dynamic field condition. In a laboratory setting, the variability among different MPS signals was insignificant confirming the postulated high accuracy and reproducibility of the sensor performance. It also demonstrated statistically significant correlations with dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) sensors, while showing capabilities of operating under anoxic and anaerobic conditions. Regardless of their locations in the model wetland system, three MPS sensors functioned without interruption and cleaning for a period >2 years, and thus demonstrating long-term durability of the MPS technology. In real batch-wastewater treatment facility, the deployed MPS system signals were able to describe the organic carbon trends and correlate with each treatment phase in a cycle. Data reproducibility and reliability exceeded the expectations better describing the carbon treatment levels than the DO and ORP sensors (p < 4.4 × 10−162 vs phase adjusted p < 3.0 × 10−58). While MPS signals correlate with specific parameters that describe the local process or environments, it is more prudent to employ both the magnitude and pattern of a composite signal like the MPS signal describe the change to reflect any shift in the local environment. When compared to a baseline pattern, this change in signal magnitude and pattern reveals important information that can be employed to tailor and optimize any condition or process which involves microorganisms.
KW - Biofilm
KW - Long-term monitoring
KW - Microbial potentiometric sensor
KW - Real-time monitoring
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087281235&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85087281235&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140528
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140528
M3 - Article
C2 - 32623171
AN - SCOPUS:85087281235
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 742
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
M1 - 140528
ER -