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Needle-Type Multi-Analyte MEMS Sensor Arrays for In Situ Measurements in Biofilms

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Abstract

Biofilms are colonies of microbial cells in a polymeric matrix. Formation of biofilms has been associated with a broad range of industrial problems at the annual cost of billions of dollars. For example, biofilms are ubiquitous in water distribution systems and control of their growth have been a great challenge, with many water utilities in the US reporting biofilm survival in water distribution systems despite the continuing presence of disinfectants. In addition to being a nuisance, biofilms may also harbor various types of microorganisms including opportunistic pathogens and thus can threaten public health. The conventional methods for studying biofilms include microelectrode sensors fabricated from pulled glass micropipettes. However, fragility, difficulty to manufacture and operate, and susceptibility to electrical interference limit their use to specialized laboratories under highly controlled conditions. Thus, there is a critical need for robust microelectrode sensors that can be used In Situ to study biofilms.

This chapter describes the use of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies to develop needle-type sensors for In Situ measurements in biofilms. The individual needle-type sensors for measuring oxidation reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen (DO), and phosphate were integrated into a single multi-analyte sensor array. All three sensors were extensively characterized, exhibiting higher sensitivity, faster response time, and higher stability with smaller tip size than the conventional sensors. The multi-analyte sensor was successfully applied to In Situ evaluation of microprofiles in multi-species biofilms. The major advantages of these new MEMS sensors include the ability to penetrate samples to perform measurements, the small tip size for In Situ measurements, array structure for higher robustness, and possibility of multi-analyte detection. The sensors demonstrated monitoring of local concentration changes in small structures with a high spatial resolution, and offer the versatility of the microelectrode technique as well as the capability for repetitive measurements. Ultimately, this research will enable in situ measurements in a wide variety of small sample applications in environmental engineering and life sciences.

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Abbreviations

ASTM::

American society for testing and materials

COM::

Commercially available millielectrode

CCD::

Charge couple device

COD::

Chemical oxygen demand

DO::

Dissolved oxygen

EBPR::

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal

EDM::

Electrical discharge machining

EPS::

Extracellular polymeric substances

FISH::

Fluorescent in situ hybridization

HOC::

Hydrophobic organic compound

HRT::

Hydraulic retention time

IC::

Integrated circuit

ISFETs::

Ion-sensitive field-effect transistors

LOC::

Lab-on-a-chip

ME::

Conventional pulled-glass pipette microelectrode

MEA::

Microelectrode Array

MEMS::

Microelectromechanical systems

MLSS::

Mixed liquid suspended solids

ORP::

Oxidation reduction potential

PAOs::

Phosphate accumulating organisms

PCB::

Printed circuit board

SBR::

Sequencing batch reactor

SRT::

Sludge retention time

UEA::

Utah Electrode Array

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support of this work by grants from the National Science Foundation (BES-0228603, BES-0529217), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the University of Cincinnati Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology. The authors also thank Frank Sauser for assistance with ORP MEA packaging, Dr. Fred Beyette and Alla Suresh Kumar for assistance with electrical signal conditioning, Dr. Peng Jin for assistance with beveling, and Tae-Sun Lim for assistance with DO MEA sensor fabrication and characterization [79–83].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Jin-Hwan Lee & Ian Papautsky

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

    Youngwoo Seo

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Woo Hyoung Lee & Paul Bishop

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  1. Jin-Hwan Lee
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  2. Youngwoo Seo
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Correspondence to Ian Papautsky .

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  1. Dowling College, Idle Hour Blvd. 150, Oakdale, 11769, USA

    Vishal Shah

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Lee, JH., Seo, Y., Lee, W.H., Bishop, P., Papautsky, I. (2010). Needle-Type Multi-Analyte MEMS Sensor Arrays for In Situ Measurements in Biofilms. In: Shah, V. (eds) Emerging Environmental Technologies, Volume II. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3352-9_6

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