DE102012000880A1 - Method for sampling and treating water from e.g. sea for examining suspended solids, involves removing liquid sample from natural habitat, and transporting sample into laboratory for analysis purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves transferring a portion of a liquid sample into an amount of liquid locally in a container (5) in relation to environment. Substrates and/or reagents are metered in directly and locally into the liquid sample under in-situ-conditions. The sample is removed from a natural habitat after end of main reactions of a sampling location. The sample is transported into a laboratory for analysis purposes. Conversion rates of microorganisms contained in the liquid sample are determined, and genetic expression patterns of the microorganisms contained in the liquid sample are determined. An independent claim is also included for a device for sampling and treating liquids for examining suspended solids, microorganisms and chemical compounds.

Description

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for sampling in particular water from the sea, from inland waters, sewage treatment plants u. a., also from different depths. Substrates or reagents may be added to the samples through the device in situ for investigations of the suspended solids, microorganisms and chemical compounds contained therein.

State of the art

For the investigation of the biological organisms or chemical substances in the water, with regard to the environmental impact or other properties, it is customary to take samples from different water depths. So that these samples contain only the sample liquid of the sampling site, so-called water creators were developed. These consist in the simplest embodiment of a pipe piece and two closure lid, which are connected to a clamping element and a trigger mechanism for closing the ends of the pipe section. The sample volume is thereby trapped after the filling of the pipe section and can no longer mix with water from other local layers.

Several such water makers can be mounted on the circumference of a carrier to take samples from different depths. A so-called rosette water creator is in the US 3,489,012 described.

The disadvantage of using this water creator, that the sample liquid is transported to a laboratory for further investigation and there is partially transferred to other containers. By this method with a withdrawal from the water, the environmental conditions such. B. the water pressure and the light intensity changed. During the time of the transfer, further biological and / or chemical processes can take place which change the values from the point of collection. The results of the investigations in the laboratory can thus be falsified.

In order to improve the quality of the laboratory investigations, methods and technical solutions have been proposed to obtain the in-situ conditions in the samplers during the transfer. This particularly concerns the hydrostatic pressure, the ambient light conditions and the temperature. In the US PS 3769842 . US PS 3892130 . US PS 6338282 inter alia, such solutions are described.

These are technically complex and yet only partially correspond to the natural habitat on site. Furthermore, a transport to the laboratory is still required. Especially microbiological examinations, such as activity determinations based on turnover rates or DNA expression analyzes, are negatively affected.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method and a device which allows investigations which correspond to the natural habitat or at least stabilize these conditions. Another object is the possible use of the device in conjunction with known Wasserschöpfern.

This object is achieved by the features of method claim 1 and the device claim 4. Thereafter, in the process in which the Probeanteil the amount of liquid transferred directly on site in a container and is then delimited from the environment, according to the invention, the substrates or reagents below directly before Place, under in-situ conditions, added to the liquid sample. The sample is removed from the site of sampling, from the natural habitat, only after the completion of the essential reactions and transported to a laboratory for analysis.

The advantage of the method is that negative influences from changing environmental conditions over the habitat by the transport to the laboratory are largely avoided. This is particularly true of studies on microorganisms z. B. react with a change in the metabolism or even die, which falsifies the examination results. The method also does not require complicated devices to maintain in-situ conditions during transfer.

According to a process variant according to claim 2, the sample is incubated after in situ metering at in-situ conditions to determine the conversion rates of the microbes contained in the liquid.

Thus, the essential reactions are carried out under in-situ conditions, which further improves the quality of the measured values.

The method variant according to claim 3 contains a special method for determining genetic expression patterns (messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA) of the organisms contained in the sample. This is done by direct in situ fixation for stabilization for subsequent sample transfer.

Fixation also improves the quality of subsequent analyzes.

Claim 4 contains the device according to the invention for carrying out the method.

After that, at a water creator ( 1 ) a remotely operable injection device ( 4 ) attached. This consists of at least one container ( 5 ) for substrates, or reagents for the treatment of the sample liquid and a conveyor ( 8th . 9 . 10 ) for this. The container ( 5 ) is via a connecting piece ( 6 ) with a check valve ( 7 ) with the interior of the water creator ( 1 ) and at the water creator ( 1 ) At least one filling valve and a pressure relief valve are arranged.

This design makes it possible to add corresponding substrates or reagents to the sample directly on site, thereby allowing the reactions to proceed under in-situ conditions. For the determination of z. B. microbial conversion rates, these can be incubated under natural conditions. For genetic expression patterns (messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA) in situ fixation can be performed.

The injection device ( 4 ) can be attached to a piece of pipe ( 2 ) of a water creator ( 1 ) are attached. Thus, the innovation can be used with existing technology, eg. B. also to Rosettenwasserschöpfer.

The conveyor ( 8th . 9 . 10 ) is designed so that the dosing pressure can overcome the local water pressure. In the closure lid ( 3 ) of the water creator ( 1 ) Furthermore, a pressure relief valve is arranged so that water can flow according to the volume of the metered addition.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to claim 5, the injection device ( 4 ) from a cylindrical container ( 5 ) with two end caps. In this are a piston ( 8th ) with a dosing rod ( 9 ) with handle and a compression spring ( 10 ) between the piston ( 8th ) and a cover.

This simple construction allows the metering of a substrate in a predetermined quantity after the filling and the closure of the pipe section ( 2 ) of the water creator ( 1 ). Through the use of different springs or their bias can be done even at greater depths of water.

The design of the injection device ( 4 ) according to claim 6 has at least one end cap and one end of the cylindrical container ( 5 ) a detachable connection. This can z. B. be a screw thread or bayonet lock.

Through the removable cover the substrates or reagents can be filled and the container 5 getting cleaned.

The embodiment according to claim 7 proposes that the injection device ( 4 ) by clamping bracket ( 11 ) on the container ( 5 ) via webs with the holder of the pipe section ( 2 ) of the water creator ( 1 ) is releasably connected.

The detachable connection allows easy handling during the maintenance of the injection device ( 1 ), for filling the container ( 5 ) and other measures.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to claim 8 engages on the dosing ( 9 ) a release lever ( 12 ), which is provided with a closure lid ( 3 ) of the water creator ( 1 ) is coupled.

This causes that with the closing of the pipe section ( 2 ) of the water creator ( 1 ) by the movement of the closure lid ( 3 ) automatically the dosage of the injection device ( 1 ) begins.

A further embodiment variant of the injection device ( 4 ) according to claim 9 consists of two or more containers ( 5 ) for various substrates, or reagents for the treatment of the sample liquid.

At least one feed pump is connected to these via a multi-way valve and lines. Furthermore, a power supply and a controller to the feed pump and the multi-way valve are connected.

This technically more complex variant can dose various substrates or reagents at selectable time intervals in the sample space.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to claim 10, the connecting piece ( 6 ) with a pipe in the pipe section ( 2 ), at which several atomizer nozzles ( 13 ) are arranged.

This solution ensures a faster and uniform distribution of the dosed substrates, or reagents in the sample liquid in the pipe section ( 2 ).

Examples

The novelty of an embodiment will be explained in more detail below.

1 shows the device according to the embodiment variant according to claim 2 in a three-dimensional view.

The water creator 1 consists of a piece of pipe 2 that at the ends, each with a closure lid 3 is closable. The pipe piece 2 is attached with 2 brackets to a carrier unit. This allows attachment to a rosette water maker. Also attached to the carrier unit is a remotely actuable triggering mechanism which is provided with a biased retention device for the closure caps 3 communicates.

At the temples is still parallel to the pipe section 2 a flat carrier attached, the 2 clamps 11 wearing. These are made of elastic material and partially comprise the container 5 the injection device 4 , The injection device is easily from the water creator by this press fit 1 severable.

The container 5 the injection device 4 is closed at both ends by removable cover. In the upper cover a pipe is fastened, that over a connecting piece 6 with check valve 7 with a pipe in the pipe section 2 connected is. At this tube are at intervals several atomizer nozzles 13 arranged.

Through the lower end cap is a dosing rod 9 led, which at the upper end a piston 8th wearing. At the opposite end is a handle for tensioning a compression spring 10 attached. This is between the piston 8th and the lower end cover stored.

The dosing rod 9 owns below the piston 8th laterally several grooves into which a release lever 12 can intervene. This release lever 12 stands with the cap 3 in connection.

To carry out a sampling with a treatment in-situ, or realization of the method is the injection device 4 open by unscrewing the end cap, the piston 8th from the container 5 pulled and filled a reagent. Subsequent will be the piston 8th back into the container 5 introduced, the compression spring 10 by pulling back the dosing rod 9 stretched and the end cap is screwed on.

The release lever 12 is doing in a groove of the dosing 9 latched to the piston 8th able to hold on. The entire device can now be lowered into a body of water, or previously attached to a Rosettenwasserschöpfer. After the desired depth is reached, the pipe section is controlled by a remote control 2 of the water creator 1 through the cap 3 locked. By the movement of the lower cap 3 is also the release lever 12 actuated. This gives the dosing rod 9 free. This allows the compression spring 10 the piston 8th push upwards. The reagent is delivered via the connecting piece 6 in the pipe section 2 pressed. Part of the sample liquid escapes through an unillustrated pressure relief valve. Under in-situ conditions now the desired reaction takes place. Thereafter, the device can be caught up and the sample liquid from a filling valve or by opening a closure lid 3 be removed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

water Sampler

2

pipe section

3

cap

4

injection device

5

container

6

connecting pieces

7

check valve

8th

piston

9

metering

10

compression spring

11

clamp

12

sear

13

atomizer

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 3489012 [0003]
• US 3769842 [0005]
• US 3892130 [0005]
• US 6338282 [0005]

Claims (10)

Method for sampling and treating liquids, in particular from waters with suspended matter, microorganisms and chemical compounds contained therein, in which a liquid sample is mixed with substrates or reagents and the results of the reactions are evaluated, the sample proportion of the quantity of liquid being filtered directly on site transferred to a container and is then delimited from the environment, characterized in that the substrates or reagents are subsequently added directly to the site, under in-situ conditions, to the liquid sample and the sample only after the completion of the essential reactions from the place of sampling , removed from the natural habitat, and transported to a laboratory for analysis. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that for determining the conversion rates of the microbes contained in the liquid, the sample is incubated after metering in situ at in-situ conditions. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that for the determination of genetic expression patterns (messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA) of the organisms contained in the sample, a direct in situ fixation for stabilization for a subsequent sample transfer takes place. Device for carrying out the method for sampling and treatment of liquids, with a water creator ( 1 ), characterized in that at the water creator ( 1 ) a remotely operable injection device ( 4 ) consisting of at least one container ( 5 ) for substrates, or reagents for the treatment of the sample liquid and a conveyor ( 8th . 9 . 10 ), whereby the container ( 5 ) via a connecting piece ( 6 ) with check valve ( 7 ) with the interior of the water creator ( 1 ) and at the water creator ( 1 ) At least one filling valve and a pressure relief valve are arranged. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the injection device ( 4 ) from a cylindrical container ( 5 ) with two end caps, in which a piston ( 8th ) with a dosing rod ( 9 ) with handle and a compression spring ( 10 ) between the piston ( 8th ) and a cover are stored. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one end cap of the injection device ( 4 ) and one end of the cylindrical container ( 5 ) has a releasable connection, such as screw thread or bayonet closure. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the injection device ( 4 ) by clamping bracket ( 11 ) on the container ( 5 ) via webs with the holder of the pipe section ( 2 ) of the water creator ( 1 ) is releasably connected. Device according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that on the dosing rod ( 9 ) a release lever ( 12 ) engages with a closure lid ( 3 ) of the water creator ( 1 ) is coupled. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the injection device ( 4 ) from two or more containers ( 5 ) For various substrates, or reagents for the treatment of the sample liquid, at least one associated with these via a valve, or multi-way valve and lines conveyor pump therefor, a power supply and a controller. Device according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the connecting piece 6 with a pipe in the pipe section ( 2 ), at which several atomizing nozzles ( 13 ) are arranged.

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