AT506827A1 - Determining water quality, comprises measuring or evaluating migration speed of positive phototrophic water microbes such as daphnia, euglena, Triops, ciliate and Artemia salina-nauplii and -crayfish, which are attracted using light source - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of determining water quality, comprises measuring or evaluating the migration speed of positive phototrophic water microbes such as daphnia, euglena, Triops, ciliate and Artemia salina-nauplii and -crayfish, which are attracted using a light source. The migration behavior in small tunnel tube having length of 50-150 mm and breadth of 4-10 mm is observed under the interference with different chemical pollutants in time-dependent manner. The migration behavior of the microbes is evaluated using a camera provided with evaluation software. The method of determining water quality, comprises measuring or evaluating the migration speed of positive phototrophic water microbes such as daphnia, euglena, Triops, ciliate and Artemia salina-nauplii and -crayfish, which are attracted using a light source. The migration behavior in small tunnel tube having length of 50-150 mm and breadth of 4-10 mm is observed under the interference with different chemical pollutants in time-dependent manner. The migration behavior of the microbes is evaluated using a camera provided with evaluation software. Depending upon the type of test organism and the loading standard, directly and alternately illuminated target or start-beam arrangements and evaluation software are used. The effects of sound, ultrasound and current impulses are determined in addition to chemical exposure parameter. The method is carried out with ciliates on a slide. An independent claim is included for a device for determining water quality.

Description

16/05 2008 16:19 FAX 07722 83890 225 HIBLA BRAUNA @ 007 • ···· ·

Description ^

The invention relates to a method by which the influence of physical and chemical factors on the physical behavior of microorganisms can be determined by determining the speed of movement (time of migration) over a certain distance. The study of behavior patterns of various test organisms as an example of the Daphnia Magna Straus according to the ISO standard 10706 (Water quaiity - Determination of long toxicity of the substance to Daphnia Magna Straus) was only recently recognized and established as an EU-compliant test method. Our own experience has shown, however, that the implementation is very time-consuming and does not allow very clear monocausal statements. In the context of the EU's REACH regulation, which deals with the toxicological reassessment of chemical substances, it is of paramount importance to have quick and meaningful test procedures available. Our invention consists of a tunneled tubular tunnel filled with aqueous media, at the beginning of which there is provided a mechanical device for releasing the traveling path at the end of which an opto-electronic device for observation by means of continuous data acquisition with a variable light source.

The light-seeking microorganisms (phototaxis) bred under defined conditions are put under stress according to a specific program using physical methods such as temperature, sound, light and chemical substances that reach public waters via sewage treatment plants and introduced into the device according to the invention such that at the same time several experimental organisms at the same time from a kind of starting device to the illuminated target at the end of the tunnel, where the camera with image analysis to the arrival Konche Zeitzeit are swimming.

The actual measurement procedure consists of the plant sections start block, tubular tunnel migration route, a starburst-shaped, hole-bearing target round block with illumination and surveillance camera.

In the following the invention will be illustrated with reference to the figures.

1 shows the overall overview, FIG. 2 shows the starting block, FIG. 3 shows the traveling distance, FIG. 4 shows the target block and FIG. 5 shows the carrier ring.

The starting block (Fig. 2) is made of plastic such as polyethene, polypropene, PVC or polyamide or ceramic or metal and includes a horizontal bore for attaching the walking tube and two vertical Bohröfihungen, one of the opening or. Includes closure mechanisms that open or close the walking tubes for the micro-organisms and the other represents the cavity where the test organisms are introduced. The opening mechanism for each wall pipe contains a ferromagnetic steel stamp which can be raised or lowered by means of magnetic coils, this step being triggered by all or part of the starting blocks, whether manually or electronically controlled.

The tubular traveling distance (FIG. 3) made of commercially available, opaque thermoplastic material can be matched to the size and type of the test organisms with respect to their inner diameter and length and connects the starblock block (FIG. 2) with the target block (FIG. 4), which is made of transparent material Plastic such as plexiglass, PVC or glass may exist.

The different colored light sources used for attracting the positively phototrophic (photophilic, phototaxy) microorganisms are adjusted as LEDs in a carrier ring made of plastic or aluminum around the circular target block so that light can be incident in all traveling tubes equally (Fig. 5), 16/05 2008 FR 17:07 [SE / EM NR 7171] @ 007 16/05 2008 16:20 FAX 07722 83690 225 HTBLA BRAUNA @ 008 ··· · ···· • ··························· ······································································

After starting the test animals, the electronic high-resolution camera observes the target area in such a way that all possible six target in-runs are monitored and a specially developed image comparison program immediately recognizes when a test organism has crossed the finish line. The runtime can now be read in automatically and saved for evaluation purposes.

As a small and microorganism one can e.g. Use Daphnia, Artemias, Hupferlinge, eye-animals, flatworms and ciliates.

This water quality test method can be very flexibly adapted to the particular situation, where you can use a variety of test organisms down to the microscopic range, if the movement reactions (taxies) not only by light stimuli, but also by fragrances (meat baits), current pulses or Sound waves can be triggered.

In a simple variant, the tunnel can be replaced directly with an aquarium-like basin, with a light bar in the dark attracting the test organisms in a time-controlled manner. This light bar now becomes the start bar after the light is extinguished and the illuminated counter bar lures the organisms again, whose traveling times can be determined well by means of camera and time program depending on the chemical or physical loads.

In the microscopic range, this can also be carried out on a slide-type measuring device, as described above, for photosensitive ciliates and other microscopically detectable single and multiple cells. 16/05 2008 FR 17:07 [SE / EM NO 7171] @ 008

Claims (10)

16/05 2008 16:20 FAX 07722 83690 225 HTBLA BROWN 0009 16/05 2008 16:20 FAX 07722 83690 225 HTBLA BROWN 0009 * • · • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • AnrnrUdt «1. Method for the determination of water qualities, characterized in that the WandeTgeschwindigkeit of water inlays is measured and evaluated. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that one attracts positive phototrophic water organisms such as daphnia, eye livestock, Triops and ciliates, preferably Artemia Salina nauplii and crabs with a light source. 3. The method according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that one observes the migratory behavior in a small tunnel tube of different lengths, preferably between 50 and 150 mm and different diameters, preferably between 4 and 10 mm under interference with different chemical pollutants as a function of time. 4. The method according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the evaluation of the migration behavior of microorganisms by using a camera with suitable evaluation software. 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that depending on the type of test organisms and the load standard, straight and alternately illuminable target or start beam arrangements and software evaluation can be used. 6. The method according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in addition to chemical load parameters and the effects of sound, ultrasound and current pulses determined. 7. The method according to the claim 1 to 4, characterized in that it is with microorganisms z. B. ciliates on a slide is performed. 8. The method according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that one uses this measuring method for persistent organic substances of the type endocrine disruptors and heavy metals 9. Apparatus for determining water qualities characterized by, e.g. in the way that six tunnels (Figure 3) are attached to six starting blocks (Figure 2), all of which open into a target block (Figure 4). 10. The device according to claims 3, S and 9, characterized in that the test apparatus from good formability editable plastics such as PVC, PMMA, PE, PA or glass or ceramic parts, but preferably from LDPE is produced. 18/05 2008 FR 17:07 [SE / EM NO 7171] @ 008