Demonstration of Tryptophan-Like Fluorescence Sensor Concepts for Fecal Exposure Detection in Drinking Water in Remote and Resource Constrained Settings

Emily Bedell, Taylor Sharpe, Timothy Purvis, Joe Brown and Evan Thomas
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Emily Bedell: Mortenson Center in Global Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
Taylor Sharpe: Mortenson Center in Global Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
Timothy Purvis: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Joe Brown: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Evan Thomas: Mortenson Center in Global Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Low-cost, field-deployable, near-time methods for assessing water quality are not available when and where waterborne infection risks are greatest. We describe the development and testing of a novel device for the measurement of tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF), making use of recent advances in deep-ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) and sensitive semiconductor photodiodes and photomultipliers. TLF is an emerging indicator of water quality that is associated with members of the coliform group of bacteria and therefore potential fecal contamination. Following the demonstration of close correlation between TLF and E. coli in model waters and proof of principle with sensitivity of 4 CFU/mL for E. coli , we further developed a two-LED flow-through configuration capable of detecting TLF levels corresponding to “high risk” fecal contamination levels (>10 CFU/100 mL). Findings to date suggest that this device represents a scalable solution for remote monitoring of drinking water supplies to identify high-risk drinking water in near-time. Such information can be immediately actionable to reduce risks.

Keywords: water quality; E. coli; tryptophan-like fluorescence; sensor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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