3D Print BioSensor Detects If Water is Clean
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Technology
Scientists in England Have a Way to Help People in Developing Countries Make Sure Their Drinking Water is Safe
Researchers from the University of Bath's Department of Chemical Engineeringand Bristol Robotics Laboratoryat the University of the West ofEngland have created asensor, which is reportedly safe to use in rivers and lakes for round-the-clock water quality assessment.
The device, which was designed and printed using 3D printing technology, is essentially a fuel cell filled with bacteria. The bacteria live, feed and reproduce inside the fuel cell. When they eat and grow, they produce a small, measurable electrical charge. When bacteria in the sensor come into contact with contaminatedwater, the electrical current decreases a noticeable amount. This change is enough to alert someone that his water is not safe fordrinking.
In their laboratory trials, the research team was able to use the sensor to detect pollutants such as cadmium. Cadmium is a toxic by-product of the electronics industry. It produces a number of health problems in those exposed to it and is a known carcinogen. Dr. Mirella Di Lorenzo, Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Bath, said the biosensoris a simple, but useful warning system. "Because this system uses live bacteria, it acts a bit like a canary in a mine, showing how these chemicals affect living organisms," he stated
Dr. Di Lorenzo also stated that an added benefit of the device is that results are immediate. "This means we are able to monitor the level of pollutants in the water in real time without having to collect multiple samples and take them to a laboratory."
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