JP2013015512A - Water quality measuring apparatus and filtration unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To highly accurately detect and count microorganisms.SOLUTION: A water quality measuring apparatus 1 includes: a small capacity sample concentration part 2 for concentrating and collecting microorganisms included in sample water by a filtration film; a fluorescent labeling part 4a for combining fluorescent-labeled antibodies with microorganisms collected by the small capacity sample concentration part 2; and a measurement part 4b for detecting and counting the microorganisms by measuring fluorescent intensity by using an optical detector 43. The fluorescent labeling part 4a and the measurement part 4b are controlled always at the same temperature by a temperature control device 49. Since degradation of an SN ratio due to a change of the fluorescent intensity by the influence of an external temperature in measurement can be suppressed, the microorganisms can be highly accurately detected and counted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a water quality measuring device and a filtration unit for detecting and counting microorganisms contained in raw water such as environmental water such as rivers and lakes and treated water in each treatment process of water and sewage.

  In recent years, the occurrence of water-borne infectious diseases caused by protozoa such as Cryptosporidium, bacteria such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 and Legionella, and microorganisms such as viruses has become a major social problem. In order to prevent the occurrence of waterborne infections, it is important to monitor microorganisms in the water treatment process. Against this background, the patent applicant concentrates the microorganisms contained in the sample water by membrane filtration, collects the microorganisms captured on the membrane by passing the washing liquid through the filtration unit, and fluoresces the collected microorganisms. A water quality measuring device that binds labeled antibodies and detects and counts microorganisms using a fluorescence detector has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-236861 A

  However, in the conventional water quality measuring device, the SN ratio deteriorates due to the change of the label (fluorescence) intensity of the microorganism due to the influence of the external temperature at the time of measurement, and the microorganism may not be detected and counted with high accuracy. Moreover, in the conventional water quality measuring apparatus, the sample water tank for storing the sample water and the cleaning water tank for storing the cleaning liquid are installed at a position lower than the filtration unit. For this reason, according to the conventional water quality measuring device, the pressure required during filtration increases, and the pressure applied to the membrane tends to fluctuate, so that the recovery rate of microorganisms tends to fluctuate. Further, according to the configuration of the conventional filtration unit, when the filtration membrane is reversely washed, the filtration membrane may be damaged or deformed by the washing pressure in the reverse direction to the normal time that occurs during the reverse washing.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, The objective is to provide the water quality measuring apparatus which can detect and count microorganisms with high precision. Another object of the present invention is to provide a filtration unit capable of suppressing the filtration membrane from being damaged or deformed.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a water quality measurement device according to the present invention uses a filtration membrane to collect microorganisms contained in sample water, and fluoresces microorganisms collected by the filtration unit. A fluorescence labeling unit that binds the labeled antibody; and a measurement unit that detects and counts the microorganisms by measuring fluorescence intensity using a fluorescence detector, and the labeling unit and the measurement unit are temperature controlled. The same temperature is always controlled by the device.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a filtration unit according to the present invention includes a pipe for supplying sample water, pressurization and / or for recovering the suspension separated from the sample water by air pressure. An upper flow cell to which a pipe for intake and a pipe for collecting sample water are connected, a lower flow cell to which a pipe for supplying cleaning liquid and a pipe for discharging waste liquid are connected, the upper flow cell and the lower flow cell A filtration membrane that filters the sample water, and a sealing member that is disposed between the upper flow cell and the filtration membrane and has a mesh for protecting the filtration membrane. And

  According to the water quality measurement apparatus of the present invention, microorganisms can be detected and counted with high accuracy. Moreover, according to the filtration unit which concerns on this invention, it can suppress that a filtration membrane is damaged and deform | transformed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a water quality measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the sign / measurement unit shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a water quality measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the filtration unit shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of a water quality measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a water quality measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the sign / measurement unit 4 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a water quality measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the filtration unit shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the water quality measuring apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a small-volume sample concentration unit (1 L, flat membrane filtration) 2, a large-volume sample concentration unit (10 L, ceramic membrane filtration) 3, and A sign / measurement unit 4 is provided as a main component. As shown in FIG. 2, the labeling / measuring unit 4 includes a labeling unit 4a and a measuring unit 4b. The small-volume sample concentrating unit 2 separates and concentrates microorganisms from sample water using a flat membrane. As shown in FIG. 3, the small-volume sample concentrating unit 2 includes a small-volume sample water tank 21 for storing sample water, a cleaning liquid tank 22 for storing cleaning liquid, a filtration unit 23 having a filtration membrane, and a drain for storing drainage. A liquid tank 24 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the filtration unit 23 has a flat packing 231, a flat membrane 232, a support plate 233, a radial direction having a stirrer 230 for stirring the sample water and the cleaning liquid, and a mesh 231 a for maintaining the membrane protection and confidentiality. The liquid amount adjusting member 234 having a plurality of slits 234a and the O-ring 235 are sandwiched between the upper flow cell 236a and the lower flow cell 236b. The upper flow cell 236a includes a pipe 237a for supplying sample water in the small-capacity sample water tank 21, and a pressure and / or intake air for recovering the suspension containing microorganisms separated from the sample water by air pressure. A pipe 237b and a pipe 237c for collecting sample water are connected. Connected to the lower flow cell 236b are a pipe 237d for supplying the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank 22 and a pipe 237e for discharging the drained liquid to the drainage tank 24. The filtration unit 23 separates microorganisms from the sample water stored in the small volume sample water tank 21. Microorganisms captured on the flat membrane 232 are collected by back-cleaning the flat membrane 232 using the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank 22.

  A mesh 231 a is stretched around the flat packing 231 interposed between the stirrer 230 and the flat membrane 232. According to such a configuration, since the stirrer 230 can be prevented from coming into direct contact with the flat membrane 232, the flat membrane 232 due to contact with the stirrer 230 even if the stirring strength of the stirrer 230 is increased during backwashing. Can be prevented, and the recovery efficiency of the microorganisms captured on the flat membrane 232 can be increased. Further, it is possible to suppress the flat membrane 232 from being damaged or deformed by the cleaning pressure in the direction opposite to the normal time generated at the time of reverse cleaning, thereby improving the safety of the system. Further, since the mesh 231a is provided integrally with the flat packing 231, the assembling work of the filtration unit 23 is facilitated as compared with the case where the mesh 231a and the flat packing 231 are provided separately.

  The liquid amount adjusting member 234 interposed between the support plate 233 and the O-ring 235 reduces the space formed between the support plate 233 and the lower flow cell 236b. Further, the liquid amount adjusting member 234 controls the liquid amount of the cleaning liquid supplied to the flat film 232 at the time of reverse cleaning by supplying the cleaning liquid through the plurality of slits 234a. Thereby, the reproducibility of the recovery rate of the microorganisms captured on the flat membrane 232 can be improved. Further, since the plurality of slits 234a are formed in the radial direction, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the entire surface of the flat membrane 232, and the collection efficiency of the microorganisms captured on the flat membrane 232 can be increased.

  In addition, as for the filtration unit 23, it is desirable to arrange | position so that the flat film 232 may have an inclination with respect to a horizontal surface. By disposing the filtration unit 23 at an angle, the entire amount of washing water in the filtration unit 23 can be recovered after reverse cleaning, so that the recovery rate of microorganisms and the reproducibility of the recovery rate can be improved.

  The large-capacity sample concentrating unit 3 concentrates the sample water stored in the large-capacity sample water tank 32 using the ceramic membrane 31, and injects the collected sample water into the small-capacity sample water tank 21. is there. A control device (not shown) injects sample water into either the small volume sample concentration unit 2 or the large volume sample concentration unit 3 based on the turbidity value of the sample water measured by a turbidimeter (not shown). For example, when the turbidity of the sample water is 20 degrees or more, the control device injects the sample water (precipitation treated water, 10 L) into the large-volume sample concentration unit 3. Sample water whose turbidity has been processed to a predetermined value or less by the large-volume sample concentration unit 3 can be injected into the small-volume sample concentration unit 2. On the other hand, when the turbidity of the sample water is less than a predetermined value (for example, 20 degrees), the control device directly injects 1 L of sample water into the small-volume sample concentration unit 2.

  The labeling unit 4a includes a labeling device 42 that binds the fluorescently labeled antibody stored in the labeled antibody tank 41 to the protozoa. The measurement unit 4 b detects and counts microorganisms contained in the sample water using the fluorescence detector 43, and dispenses the detected microorganisms in the collection tank 44. The optical detector 43 includes a light source 45, a flow cell 46, and a detector 47. The sample water flowing in the flow cell 46 is irradiated with laser light having a wavelength of 488 nm, for example, and the fluorescence intensity and scattered light are measured by the detector 47. As a result, the microorganisms contained in the sample water are detected and counted.

  In the water quality measuring apparatus 1 having such a configuration, the temperature of the marking unit 4a and the measuring unit 4b is always maintained at a predetermined temperature by the temperature control device 49. According to such a configuration, since the S / N ratio can be prevented from deteriorating due to the change in the fluorescence intensity due to the influence of the external temperature at the time of measurement, microorganisms can be detected and counted with high accuracy. Further, in the water quality measuring apparatus 1 having such a configuration, a small-capacity sample water tank 21 that stores sample water and a wash water tank 22 that stores cleaning liquid are installed at a position higher than the filtration unit 23. For this reason, according to the conventional protozoan measuring apparatus, the pressure required at the time of filtration is increased, and the pressure applied to the membrane is likely to fluctuate, whereby fluctuations in the protozoa recovery rate can be suppressed.

  Although the embodiment to which the invention made by the present inventor is applied has been described above, the present invention is not limited by the description and the drawings that form a part of the disclosure of the present invention according to this embodiment. That is, other embodiments, examples, operational techniques, and the like made by those skilled in the art based on the present embodiment are all included in the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water quality measuring device 2 Filtration part 3 Sample concentration part 4 Labeling / measurement part 4a Labeling part 4b Measurement part 21 Small capacity sample water tank 22 Washing liquid tank 23 Filtration unit 24 Drain tank 31 Ceramic membrane 32 Large capacity sample water tank 41 Labeled antibody Tank 42 Labeling device 43 Optical detector 44 Recovery tank 45 Light source 46 Flow cell 47 Detector 49 Temperature control device 230 Stirrer 231 Flat packing 231a Mesh 232 Flat membrane 233 Support plate 234 Liquid amount adjusting member 234a Slit 235 O-ring 236a Upper flow cell 236b Lower flow cell 237a to 237e Piping

Claims (5)

A small-volume sample concentration unit that concentrates and collects microorganisms contained in the sample water using a filtration membrane;
A fluorescent labeling part for binding the fluorescently labeled antibody to the microorganisms collected by the small-volume sample concentration part;
A measurement unit that detects and counts the microorganisms by measuring fluorescence intensity using an optical detector;
With
The water quality measuring device, wherein the labeling unit and the measuring unit are always controlled at the same temperature by a temperature control device. The small volume sample concentrating section is
A small-capacity sample water tank for storing the sample water;
A filtration unit for recovering microorganisms contained in the sample water using the filtration membrane;
A cleaning liquid tank for storing a cleaning liquid for cleaning the filtration membrane,
The water quality measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the small-capacity sample water tank and the cleaning liquid tank are arranged at a position higher than the filtration unit. A pipe for supplying the sample water, a pressure and / or intake pipe for collecting the suspension separated from the sample water by air pressure, and an upper flow cell connected to the pipe for collecting the sample water;
A lower flow cell to which a pipe for supplying cleaning liquid and a pipe for discharging waste liquid are connected;
A filtration membrane for filtering the sample water sandwiched between the upper flow cell and the lower flow cell;
A sealing member disposed between the upper flow cell and the filtration membrane and having a mesh for protecting the filtration membrane;
A filtration unit comprising:   The filtration unit according to claim 3, further comprising a liquid amount adjusting member that is disposed between the filtration membrane and the lower flow cell and adjusts the flow rate of the cleaning liquid supplied to the filtration membrane. The filtration unit according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the upper flow cell and the lower flow cell are arranged such that a filtration membrane has an inclination with respect to a horizontal direction.

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