Innovative Spirulina Platensis-Based Love Wave Microsensor for the Detection of Heavy Metal in Liquid Medium

Abstract

A dried biomass of Arthrospira platensis, called Spirulina (Sp), a filamentous cyanobacterium, a blue-green microalga, is known to bind a wide range of heavy metals [1]. In this work, we propose an innovative approach, based on Spirulina as bioreceptor, combined with highly sensitive Love wave platform for the real-time detection of HM in liquid medium. The real time response to various concentrations of Cadmium (Cd2+) and Mercury (Hg2+), pumped through the microchannels, has been investigated. A detection limit as low as 10-12 mol.l-1 has been obtained. This response has been attributed to changes of microalgae visco-elastic equivalent parameters in presence of heavy metals