Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R14149/01
Title:	On-Line Detection & Monitoring of Biological & Non-Biological Particles In Drinking Water
Principal Investigator:	Kaye, Professor PH
Other Investigators:	Ulanowski, Professor ZJ Fenner, Professor R
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Anglian Water Bristol Industrial & Research Associates Defence Science & Tech Lab DSTL
Department:	Physical Sciences
Organisation:	University of Hertfordshire
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 February 2001	Ends:	30 June 2004	Value (£):	148,564
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Water Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Water
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
This project is aimed at the development of a prototype instrument to continuously classify low-concentration particulates in drinking water and to significantly improve on-line detection of the presence of biological particles such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The proposed instrument would seek to bridge the gap between off-line high specificity, high sensitivity, (and high cost) detection methods such as those based on PCR, and lower cost methods based on particle counting/sizing which can operate on-line but with little or no specificity. It would build upon technologies developed at UH under support from DERA CBD and EPSRC for the monitoring and detection of hazardous airborne particles, especially airborne biological organisms. In both scenarios, the number of hazardous particles present may represent a minute fraction of the total particulate population.The proposed approach involves the individual characterisation of water-borne particles at high throughput rates (typically ~5,000 particles per second) by simultaneous measurement of each particle's spatial light scattering properties and intrinsic fluorescence. Spatial light scattering analysis provides indices relating to particle size, shape, and composition, whilst intrinsic fluorescence, measured at specific wavelength bands, can provide additional evidence of a particle's biological nature. This combination has been successfully employed in instrumentation for the continuous monitoring and classification of airborne particles involving the discrimination of biological organisms from non-biological background particles. The objectives of the proposed programme are aligned with EPSRC's mission in terms of both wealth creation and improvement of quality of life.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.herts.ac.uk