System monitors quality of reclaimed water continuously and automatically. Incubated samples are compared with unincubated ones by measuring their respective chemiluminescence

Hartung, W.

Linnecke, C.

Witz, S.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

August 1975	 B75-10170 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed 10 the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Continuous Detection of Viable Micro-Organisms by Chem hum inescence 
.
The problem: 
Reclaimed drinking water must be constantly 
monitored for live, or viable, micro-organisms. 
Therefore a system is needed which could warn people 
that reclaimed water is no longer sterile. The standard 
equipment used for detecting bacteria is not suitable 
for continuous monitoring. It takes too much time 
and effort to run frequent tests of the water samples. 
In the interim the water may become dangerously 
contaminated. 
The solution: 
A new system was developed which monitors 
reclaimed water continuously. It can also be applied 
as a monitor in food-processing industries. 
How it's done: 
In the new system, water samples are processed 
automatically. The processed samples are incubated 
to speed up the growth of any bacteria .that may be 
present. The incubated samples are then compared 
with unincubated ones by measuring their respective 
chemiluminescences. A more intensive signal from an 
incubated sample indicates that live micro-organisms 
are present. Chemiluminescence is produced by the 
reaction of bacterial porphyrins with a luminol/ 
hydrogen peroxide mixture. 
Disposable filter capsules are utilized in the new 
system for processing the individual water samples. 
The filter capsules, each containing a sterile 
membrane filter, are dispensed automatically from a 
cassette onto a continuous chain transport which
conveys them from one station to another. Liquids are 
introduced by means of a hypodermic needle which 
pierces a rubber septum in the bottom of the capsule. 
During the processing cycle, discrete volumes of the 
respective reagents are dispensed by syringe pumps 
from pressurized storage tanks. The processing 
sequence involves sample filtration, nutrient addition, 
incubation, washing with 4 M urea, and reaction with 
the luminol/hydrogen peroxide reagent at the readout 
station. The intensity of the luminescence produced 
by the reaction is monitored by a photomultiplier tube 
with the processed signal displayed on a strip chart 
recorder. 
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Johnson Space Center 
Code .AT3 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Reference: TSP75-10170 
Patent status: 
NASA has decided not to apply for a patent. 
Source: S. Witz, C. Linnecke, and
W. Hartung of
AMB Company
under contract to

Johnson Space Center
(MSC-14762) 
Categories: 05 (Life Sciences) 
•	 02 (Electronics Systems) 
06 (Mechanics) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United Stales 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United Slates
	
will be free from privately owned rights.
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Continuous detection of viable micro-organisms by chemiluminescence

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