Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/K007572/1
The development of fluorescence sensing for monitoring microbial processes of freshwater systems
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor DM Reynolds, University of the West of England, Institute of Biosensing Technology
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- Climate change is imposing an ever-increasing strain on the management of the world's water resources. For example, just in the UK, the increase in frequency and intensity of significant rainfall events is beginning to overstretch the capacity of existing infrastructure and sewage pollution in the country's rivers and potentially of potable water supplies is becoming a significant problem. There is an even greater impact in the developing countries where drinking water is often extracted from polluted watercourses and thus leads to disease. The ability to monitor the water quality and microbial processes within freshwater systems cost effectively with in situ sensors will provide significant societal and economic benefits. Novel instrumentation is urgently required which will enable the real-time determination of the microbial health and status of freshwater systems (surface and ground). Existing techniques require time consuming active sampling and laboratory analysis (18-36 hr microbial enumerations) which lack both temporal and spatial resolution and do not permit the real-time monitoring of environmental or ecosystem/ecological health. Our proposed fluorescence based sensors will enable realtime monitoring and provide high temporal resolution datasets. Here, we propose to develop instrumentation incorporating short wavelength ultra-violet light emitting diodes (LEDs) and miniaturised modular photomultiplier devices with integrated electronics. Our team has a combined 50+ year experience in fluorescence analysis, water quality analysis and instrument development. Aims Our primary aim is to understand the relationship between the fluorescence properties of surface and freshwater waters and the inherent microbial processes that underpin ecological health in aquatic systems. Further, we propose to develop a fluorescence based sensor for in-situ high temporal monitoring of freshwater aquatic systems. Specific objectives are: (1) To further understand the relationship between the fluorescence properties of natural waters and the inherent microbial processes that take place (productivity, microbial status etc) (2) To develop further a UV-LED based fluorescence sensor (UviLux) capable of detecting "microbial fluorescence" at environmentally relevant concentrations. (3) To test and validate the instrument by measuring water samples from a variety of freshwater systems for fluorescence and comparing the data to conventional microbial assays and bench-top fluorescence instrumentation.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/K007572/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Open CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £68,671
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £13,978 | £5,499 | £49,193 |
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