AWACSS

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AWACSS
Automated Water Analyser Computer Supported System

• Dr. Dale M. Willard, Universität Tübingen
  (Gauglitz Group)
• Contract EVK1-CT-2000-00045
• Duration 3 Year, RTD Project (Starting March,
  2001)
• Visit http//barolo.ipc.uni-tuebingen.de/awacss

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Motivation
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Goal Develop a cost-effective, on-line, water
monitoring biosensor that will measure a variety
of small organic pollutants in short-time with
remote control and surveillance.
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Methodology Immunoassay coupled with Total
Internal Reflection Fluorescence
Detection
Signal Collection
Laser
PC
IO-Chip Waveguide
Fluidics
Waste
Samples
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AWACSS Technology

• Miniaturisation
• (µL volumes)
• Quick Analysis
• (ca. 15 min.)
• Multi-analyte Detection

2D Array Detection
32 Analysis Spots
Microfluidics
Integrated Optics
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Active Areas of Work
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Instrument Design
1st Year Goal Design and order the equipment
necessary to assemble the AWACSS instruments.
Progress
Designed or selected pumps, valves, lasers,
detectors, power supplies, filters, circuit
boards, computers.
Autosampler chosen.
Preliminary testing of electronics.
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Integrated-Optical (IO)-Chip Development
Goal Develop IO-Chips capable of simultaneously
illuminating 32 analysis windows in a
miniaturised format.

• Advantages
• Single mode waveguides allow for efficient and
  consistant analysis window illumination.
• Compact dimensions allow for microfluidic design
  and reduce sample reagent volumes.
• Spatially defined but resolved analysis windows
  allow efficient detection and suppress signal
  crosstalk.

Progress Protype IO-Chips have been designed
and fabricated. Preliminary tests are now being
carried out.
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Software and Network

• Progress
• Measurement station software
  modules are selected and requirements are
  defined.
• The first generation software simulator is
  complete.
• The network design is defined.

• Local Stations
• Multi-analyte detection
• Data acquisition
• Data evaluation
• Local station control

Local station
Local station
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Immunochemistry

• 1) Synthesis and Isolation of Antibodies and
  Analyte Derivatives.
• Polyclonal from Livestock
• Antibodies Isolated with ELISA

Flow
Flow




Transducer

• 2) Assay Development.
• Binding efficiency
• Cross-reactivity
• Fluorescently labelled

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Targeted Analytes under Development
Herbicides 2,4-D Atrazine Simazine Isoproturon Diu
ron Fenuron Methoxuron Alachlor Propanil Triflural
in Glyphosate
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds Steriod Estrogens
Progesterone, Estradiol Bisphenol
A Irgarol Nonylphenol
Fungicides Pentachlorophenol Pentachlorobenzene
Insecticides Chlorpyrifos Endosulfan
Suspected Carcinogins Pyrene Trichloroethylene BTE
X DEHP
Antibiotics Sulphonamide Tetracyclines
Industrial Wastes/Chemical Markers MTBE Sulphonate
Detergents Caffeine
Assays in Phase 2
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Water Monitoring
TZW, Germany (Rhine River)
IIQAB, Spain (Llobregat River)
EI, Slovak Republic (Nitra River)

• Goals
• Cataloguing and monitoring local water quality
  using standard methods (HPLC). Data helps
  community and project establish trends and
  identify problems.
• Establishing monitoring sites for final
  instruments.
• Defining requirements of end-users, validating
  design issues, and testing final instruments.

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Water Monitoring Progress

• Cross-referencing exercise was performed and
  standardised protocols for sampling, storing,
  shipment, and extraction developed.

• Target sites for field deployment Saint Joan
  Despi (Llobregat River, Spain), Worms (Rhine
  River, Germany), Novaky Chemical Plant (Nitra
  River, Slovak Republic).

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Other Results
Market Analysis

• Survey conducted of European and American water
  monitoring programs.
• Survey found total micropollutant water sample
  examination market to be gt30 million .
  Information broken down according to regions and
  compounds.
• Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC is found as
  bench mark legal act. (13 AWACSS compounds are
  listed as "dangerous substances".)

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Partners
Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen Project
Management and Surface Immunoassay Development
Central Research Laboratory Instrument Hardward
Design
Institute of Chem. Environ. Chem. IIQAB
Instrument Design and Field Tests-Spain
DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser Instrument
Design and Field Tests-Germany
Environmental Institute, Kos Instrument Design
and Field Tests-Slovakia
Kings College London Immunochemistry
Optoelectronics Research Centre Integrated
Optical Chips
Siemens Electronics, Internet Communication,
and Market Analysis.
Funding This Project is funded under the 5th
Framework Programme Energy, Environment,
and Sustainable Development. Visit
http//barolo.ipc.uni-tuebingen.de/awacss.