Microbially-based sensors for environmental monitoring
Inventors
Buck, Justin • Silver, Matthew
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9046478-B2
Publication Date
2015-06-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to the field of surface water monitoring. More specifically, the present invention provides low-cost, real-time bio-electrochemical sensors for surface water monitoring based on the metabolism of one or more electrogenic microbes.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a bio-electrochemical system and method for detecting the presence or absence of at least one targeted chemical in a medium by using a working electrode and at least one electrically active micro-organism disposed in proximity to the working electrode. The micro-organism selectively interacts with the working electrode based upon the presence or absence of the targeted chemical to produce an electric current. The micro-organism uses the targeted chemical as an electron donor or electron acceptor instead of the working electrode.
A key detection relationship is that the electric current produced by the system in the presence of the targeted chemical is less than the electric current produced in the absence of the targeted chemical. The system is described as a low-cost, real-time bio-electrochemical environmental sensor for surface-water monitoring, where electrogenic microbe metabolism generates the electric current with an inverse response to target-compound concentration. The document contrasts the claimed approach with limitations of UV and ion-selective electrodes.
The invention further describes configurations that can separate targeted chemicals from micro-organisms using selectively permeable barriers, such as selectively permeable sterile barriers or filters, to permit passage of targeted chemicals while preventing passage of electrically active micro-organisms. It also describes multi-region sensor architectures with first and second sensor regions separated by a selectively permeable membrane so that oxygen/nitrate gradients can be sensed in separated sensor regions. In representative implementations, engineered or altered respiratory phenotypes of electrogenic microbes are used for sensing multiple electron acceptors in different regions.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims include four independent claim sets (directly shown): clm-00001, clm-00023, clm-00024, and clm-00045. Each independent claim is centered on a bio-electrochemical detector architecture where a micro-organism selectively interacts with a working electrode and produces an electric current that is lower when the targeted chemical is present than when it is absent.
Bio-electrochemical detection using selective microbial electrode interaction with inverse current response
A bio-electrochemical system for detecting the presence or absence of at least one targeted chemical comprising a working electrode comprising a cathode or an anode and at least a first electrically active micro-organism disposed in proximity to the working electrode, wherein the micro-organism selectively interacts with the working electrode based upon the presence or absence of the targeted chemical to produce an electric current.
Targeted chemical used as electron donor or electron acceptor instead of the working electrode
The first electrically active micro-organism uses the targeted chemical as an electron donor or electron acceptor instead of the working electrode.
Inverse electric current constraint for presence versus absence of targeted chemical
The electric current produced by the system in the presence of the targeted chemical is less than the electric current produced in the absence of the target chemical.
Measuring targeted chemical presence or absence in agricultural process water using bio-electrochemical monitoring
A method of measuring the presence or absence of targeted chemicals in agricultural process water by monitoring the water with a bio-electrochemical system comprising a working electrode comprising a cathode or an anode and at least one electrically active micro-organism disposed in proximity to the working electrode, wherein the micro-organism selectively interacts with the working electrode based upon the presence or absence of the targeted chemical to produce an electric current.
Micro-organism uses targeted chemical as electron donor or electron acceptor instead of working electrode in the method
The method includes that the at least one electrically active micro-organism uses the targeted chemical as an electron donor or electron acceptor instead of the working electrode.
Preferential electron acceptor usage for targeted chemical relative to the working electrode
A bio-electrochemical system wherein the at least first electrically active micro-organism preferentially uses the targeted chemical as an electron acceptor instead of the working electrode.
Shewanella oneidensis (or mutant) as the electrically active micro-organism for detection
A bio-electrochemical system wherein the at least first electrically active micro-organism comprises Shewanella oneidensis or a mutant thereof, and the micro-organism selectively interacts with the working electrode based upon the presence or absence of the targeted chemical to produce an electric current.
Across the independent claims, the coverage focuses on detecting targeted chemical presence or absence using a working electrode with a micro-organism that uses the targeted chemical as an electron donor or electron acceptor, including preferential electron acceptor use, and produces an inverse electric current response where current is less when the targeted chemical is present than when absent. One independent claim set further restricts the micro-organism to Shewanella oneidensis or mutants, and another independent claim set provides an agricultural process water measuring method.
Stated Advantages
Low-cost, real-time bio-electrochemical environmental sensing for surface-water monitoring.
Provides an inverse response where the electric current decreases with increasing target-compound concentration.
Addresses limitations of UV/ion-selective electrode approaches.
Documented Applications
Surface-water monitoring using low-cost, real-time bio-electrochemical environmental sensors.
Monitoring agricultural process water to measure presence or absence of targeted chemicals.
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