TY - JOUR
T1 - Microbial potentiometric sensor array measurements in unsaturated soils
AU - Burge, Scott R.
AU - Hristovski, Kiril D.
AU - Burge, Russell G.
AU - Saboe, Daniel
AU - Hoffman, David A.
AU - Koenigsberg, Steven S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2021/1/10
Y1 - 2021/1/10
N2 - The overarching goal of this study is to demonstrate a novel technology for monitoring changes in electrical potential of unsaturated soils using biofilm-populated electrodes. The novelty of the study stems from the fact that it demonstrates a method for measuring open-circuit potentials (OCP) in environments without the presence of an electrolyte solution. This study also reveals that using a biofilm-populated electrode as a reference in stable environments could successfully be employed to assess and monitor the electrochemical potential generated by plants and microorganisms. The findings imply that long-term (months to years) and real-time measurements of the open-circuit potential in unsaturated soils are possible. Because MPS arrays can directly measure open-circuit potential from the biofilm, the challenges related to locally induced electrochemical changes caused by microorganisms in the soil to achieve optimum physiological levels are eliminated. The simplicity of the technology, which allows for multiple indicator electrodes to be referenced against an “internal” reference electrode, enables spatial-temporal monitoring of the changes in the soil and the generation of 2D- or 3D-signal patterns. Once a signal pattern, generated by an array of sensors, develops (usually after 30 to 90 days), it does not significantly change unless the soil is exposed to external stimuli. The observed OCP phenomena, however, suggests that the change in OCP signal is independent of changes in soil conductivity resulting from the addition of water. In brief, findings suggest that the proposed technology can enable multidimensional profiling and long-term monitoring of changes occurring in unsaturated soils without direct implications of presence of water. The changes in the 2D or 3-D signal patterns, however, can be correlated to other important parameters that characterize soil health.
AB - The overarching goal of this study is to demonstrate a novel technology for monitoring changes in electrical potential of unsaturated soils using biofilm-populated electrodes. The novelty of the study stems from the fact that it demonstrates a method for measuring open-circuit potentials (OCP) in environments without the presence of an electrolyte solution. This study also reveals that using a biofilm-populated electrode as a reference in stable environments could successfully be employed to assess and monitor the electrochemical potential generated by plants and microorganisms. The findings imply that long-term (months to years) and real-time measurements of the open-circuit potential in unsaturated soils are possible. Because MPS arrays can directly measure open-circuit potential from the biofilm, the challenges related to locally induced electrochemical changes caused by microorganisms in the soil to achieve optimum physiological levels are eliminated. The simplicity of the technology, which allows for multiple indicator electrodes to be referenced against an “internal” reference electrode, enables spatial-temporal monitoring of the changes in the soil and the generation of 2D- or 3D-signal patterns. Once a signal pattern, generated by an array of sensors, develops (usually after 30 to 90 days), it does not significantly change unless the soil is exposed to external stimuli. The observed OCP phenomena, however, suggests that the change in OCP signal is independent of changes in soil conductivity resulting from the addition of water. In brief, findings suggest that the proposed technology can enable multidimensional profiling and long-term monitoring of changes occurring in unsaturated soils without direct implications of presence of water. The changes in the 2D or 3-D signal patterns, however, can be correlated to other important parameters that characterize soil health.
KW - Array
KW - Microbial
KW - Open-circuit potential
KW - Sensor
KW - Unsaturated soil
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85090921994&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85090921994&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142342
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142342
M3 - Article
C2 - 33181986
AN - SCOPUS:85090921994
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 751
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
M1 - 142342
ER -