Radiant energy – Luminophor irradiation – With ultraviolet source
Patent
1985-01-09
1987-08-11
Howell, Janice A.
Radiant energy
Luminophor irradiation
With ultraviolet source
250301, G01N 2164
Patent
active
046863729
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring cell counts of Methanogens or methane producing activity thereof in an object for examination having Methanogens therein. More particularly, it is concerned with a method which is applicable to measurement of the cell counts of Methanogens or the methane producing activity of such microorganism existing in a multitude of microorganism groups and in foreign substances such as digested sludge, and so forth which are held in a methane fermentation tank of a sewage treatment system, or the like.
BACKGROUND OF TECHNOLOGY
FIG. 1 shows a conventional apparatus for conducting this type of measurment. In the drawing, a reference numeral 1 designates an object for examination; a numeral 2 refers to a light source; 3 denotes a power source for applying an electric potential to the light source 2; 4 represents a photoelectric multiplying tube; 5 a power source for applying an electric potential to the photoelectric multiplying tube 4; and 6 indicates a detector for measuring photo-current of the photoelectric multiplying tube 4.
Light emitted from the light source 2 passes through the object for examination 1 containing therein microorganism. The transmitted light is received by the photoelectric multiplying tube 4, and its intensity is measured by the detector 6 as a photocurrent value of the photoelectric multiplying tube 4. Since there is established a definite relationship between absorbance and concentration of microorganism existing in the abovementioned object for examination 1, thus obtained, when a visible light is used as the light source, the concentration of microorganism can be evaluated by measuring the absorbance of the object for examination. As the result of, or, in connection with, this, the cell counts can be evaluated.
Also, as an other method for measuring the microorganism activity, there has been known a method for optical measurement of a quantity of biological substance relative to the energy metabolism which is called "ATP" (Adenosine Triphosphate) or "NAD(P)H" (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide(phosphate)) contained in microorganism.
As mentioned in the preceding, the conventional method for measuring the cell counts or the activity of microorganism is to measure the absorbance of an object for examination 1, on account of which such method is effective only if the object for examination 1 is composed of one kind of microorganism and contains no foreign substance such as sludge, etc. However, if the object for examination 1 is composed of many kinds of microorganisms and, moreover, if foreign substances are contained within the examined object, it was impossible to selectively measure the cell counts or activity of a particular kind of microorganism. Further, since ATP and NAD(P)H are biological substances existing in all kinds of microorganisms, the method is not suitable for measuring the cell counts or methane producing activity of Methanogens alone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus and method for measuring the cell counts or the methane producing activity of the above-mentioned Methanogens, by irradiating excited light of a particular wavelength range onto an object for examination containing therein Methanogens, and measuring the intensity of fluorescence of a particular wavelength region which the above-mentioned object for examination radiates. More particularly, the invention aims at providing a method and apparatus capable of measuring the cell counts or the methane producing activity of the above-mentioned Methanogens even if there is a mixed system of microorganism containing therein foreign substances such as digested sludge, etc. as in a methane fermentation tank.
According to the present invention, it is possible to determine with high precision the cell counts or the methane producing activity of Methanogens by use of light in a wavelength range of from 220 nm to 310 nm, or from 220 nm to 255 nm, or from 260 nm to 305 nm, or from 380 nm to 440 nm, as the exci
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patent: 3566114 (1971-02-01), Brewer
patent: 4112741 (1978-07-01), Kerfoot et al.
patent: 4503149 (1985-03-01), Boyd
Biochemistry, 17, pp. 4583-4593 ('78).
J. of Bacteriology, 121, pp. 184-191 ('75).
J. of Bacteriology, 112, pp. 527-531 ('72).
R. Braun: Methangarung Organischer Abfallstoffe, Springer-verlag, Wien-New York, 1982, Seiten 145-149.
Howard A Strobel: Chemical Instrumentation, A Systematic Approach, 2nd editon, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1973, pp. 422-426.
Kenichi Inatomi
Satoru Isoda
Howell Janice A.
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
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