초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for rapidly detecting toxicants via the use of a first CO2 sensing cell and a second reference CO2 sensing cell, with each sensing cell including a first chamber and a second chamber, separated by a CO2 permeable membrane, and a pH sensor disposed in each of the second chamber

A method and apparatus for rapidly detecting toxicants via the use of a first CO2 sensing cell and a second reference CO2 sensing cell, with each sensing cell including a first chamber and a second chamber, separated by a CO2 permeable membrane, and a pH sensor disposed in each of the second chambers. The method includes the step of placing distilled water in the first chamber of each cell, and allowing its dissolved CO2 to become equilibrated with the water in the second chamber, from which it is separated by the CO2 permeable membrane. Next, exact amounts of a microorganism and sugar are added to small dishes in the first chambers along with control vegetation for one dish and vegetation to be tested to the other dish. Then the first chambers are completely filled with distilled water and the dishes are agitated to facilitate a solution of microorganisms and sugar. The method further includes the steps of sensing the pH in the liquid contained in each of the second chambers, determining the difference between the outputs from the pH sensors, and generating an alarm signal if this difference equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment, yeast is utilized as the microorganism.

대표청구항 ▼

A biological sensor for the detection of toxicants in a sample comprising: a first and second CO2 sensing cells, each sensing cell including a first chamber for holding a liquid flush medium, a second chamber containing said liquid flush medium, a CO2 permeable membrane disposed to separate said fir

A biological sensor for the detection of toxicants in a sample comprising: a first and second CO2 sensing cells, each sensing cell including a first chamber for holding a liquid flush medium, a second chamber containing said liquid flush medium, a CO2 permeable membrane disposed to separate said first and second chambers, and a pH sensor disposed in said second chamber, said first chamber of said first CO2 sensing cell including means adaptable for agitation for holding microorganisms, a growth medium, and a control item, said first chamber of said second CO2 sensing cell including means adaptable for agitation for holding microorganisms, a growth medium, and a sample to be tested for toxicants; a flush reservoir for containing said liquid flush medium for connection to said first chambers of said first and second CO2 sensing cells; wherein the CO2 produced by said microorganisms from the mixture of said microorganisms and said growth medium in said flush medium contained in said first chambers of said first and second CO2 sensing cells is passed through said CO2 permeable membrane into said second chambers of said first and second CO2 sensing cells containing said pH sensors; and means for determining the difference between the outputs from said pH sensors in said first and second CO2 sensing cells and generating an alarm signal if said difference equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold. A biological method for detecting toxicants in a sample via the use of a first and second CO2 sensing cells, with each CO2 sensing cell including a first chamber and a second chamber, separated by a CO2 permeable membrane, and a pH sensor disposed in a liquid in each of said second chambers, the method comprising the steps of: disposing microorganisms, a growth medium for said microorganisms, and a sample to be tested for toxicants in said first chamber of said first CO2 sensing cell along with a flush medium, while disposing microorganisms, a growth medium for said microorganisms, and a control item said first chamber for said second CO2 sensing cell along with a flush medium; agitating the contents of said first chambers; sensing the pH in the liquid contained in each of said second chambers; determining the difference between the outputs from said pH sensors; and generating an alarm signal if said difference equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold.