Near-Time Effluent Quality Sensor Technologies for Organics and Bacteria for Shipboard Wastewater Treatment Systems

Espira has developed a Biohazard Water Analyzer (BWA) for field-based rapid pathogen detection. BWA employs advanced technologies including microfluidic sample preparation for nucleotide analysis and highly sensitive carbon nanotube-based electrochemical sensing for rapid detection of indicator coliform and indicator bacteria. The BWA has successfully been tested for E. Coli detection in drinking water supply in about an hour. The instrument has ability to process up to 10 L of water, selectively collect and concentrate pathogens down to 0.2 to 1.0 ml which is subjected to lysis and nucleotide extraction followed by hybridization and electrochemical analysis for quantification. Overall system includes several fully integrated modules: sample collection, concentration, extraction and detection and can be operated by minimally trained personnel. In this phase I proposal, Espira will run technical feasibility of BWA towards fecal coliform detection in simulated Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) effluent rapidly. In marine environment, the regulations controlling the discharge of shipboard wastewater are becoming increasingly strict worldwide. The effluent from the commercial and government owned ships need to be processed using MSD. Analysis of MSD effluent using Espira"s BWA will ensure that MSD operation and maintenance work properly and effluent meets established standards.