Simple, one-step dye-based kit for bacterial contamination detection in a range of water sources

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 276; pp. 121 - 127
• Main Authors: Kumar, Sweta Binod, Shinde, Ambika Hemant, Mehta, Romil, Bhattacharya, Amit, Haldar, Soumya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 10.12.2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Aquaculture; Bacteria; Bacterial sensor; Color; Contamination; Dye-based kit; Dyes; E coli; End users; Fluorides; Graphene oxide; Graphite; Polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF); Sensors; Strip; Swimming pools; Tetrazolium dye; Water; Water pollution; Water; Dye-based kit; Graphene oxide; Tetrazolium dye; Bacterial sensor; Polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF)
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2018.08.077

[Display omitted] •Dye based kit for detection of bacterial contamination in water.•Kit comprises tetrazolium dye, carbon source and graphene oxide.•Detects live bacteria.•Kit effectively worked in various environmental water samples.•Exhibit feasible manufacturing approach for low-cost bacterial detection. Low-priced bacterial sensors for testing different water contamination have the potential to save millions of lives. The present study reports a membrane-based kit (strip) that comprises tetrazolium dye and a carbon source for the detection of live bacteria in any kind of water source. Color change is observed on the strip when dipped into water containing bacteria that allows visual detection of contamination without the need of any expensive instruments. The strip efficiently estimated different concentrations of E. coli in the water on the basis of time taken to change the color. The results thus obtained supported that membrane-based strip could quantify live bacteria present in a variety of water samples. The kit also successfully worked in various environmental water samples (pond, sea, ground and municipal water) which may improve its acceptability by different end users such as in aquaculture industry, swimming pool and domestic/municipal water etc. These strips exhibit a feasible manufacturing approach for low-cost bacterial detection in majority of water sources.