Non-contact monitoring of biofilms and corrosion on submerged surfaces with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a surface, wherein one or more microorganisms are present on the surface;
a flat, patterned electrode having a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode positioned between the working electrode and the counter electrode, the flat, patterned electrode being positioned proximate the surface in non-contact relationship with the surface and the flat, patterned electrode being further positioned such that the flat, patterned electrode is not in contact with the microorganisms;
a signal source coupled to the flat, patterned electrode, the signal source configured to apply an alternating current signal to the working electrode at one or more frequencies; and
a processing device configured to detect a measured signal at the counter electrode;
wherein one or more characteristics of the measured signal at the counter electrode are indicative of one or more characteristics of the microorganisms on the surface.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring microorganisms on a surface are provided. In particular, a flat, patterned sensing electrode can be positioned proximate a surface in non-contact relationship with the surface. The sensing electrode can include a working electrode and a counter electrode. The surface and the sensing electrode can be submerged in an aqueous medium. An alternating current signal can be applied at the working electrode. The signal can propagate through the aqueous medium and can be measured at the counter electrode. The presence of microorganisms on the surface can cause changes in the signal as the signal propagates through the aqueous medium. Such changes in the signal can be used to determine impedance parameters, which can correspond to microbial characteristics associated with the surface. For instance, the microbial characteristics can be associated with a biofilm, corrosion and/or bio-corrosion on the surface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a surface, wherein one or more microorganisms are present on the surface; a flat, patterned electrode having a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode positioned between the working electrode and the counter electrode, the flat, patterned electrode being positioned proximate the surface in non-contact relationship with the surface and the flat, patterned electrode being further positioned such that the flat, patterned electrode is not in contact with the microorganisms; a signal source coupled to the flat, patterned electrode, the signal source configured to apply an alternating current signal to the working electrode at one or more frequencies; and a processing device configured to detect a measured signal at the counter electrode; wherein one or more characteristics of the measured signal at the counter electrode are indicative of one or more characteristics of the microorganisms on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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positioning a flat, patterned electrode proximate a surface in non-contact relationship with the surface, wherein one or more microorganisms are present on the surface, and further positioning the flat, patterned electrode such that is not in contact with the microorganisms, the flat patterned electrode comprising a counter electrode, a working electrode, and a reference electrode positioned between the working electrode and the counter electrode; applying an alternating current signal at the working electrode; detecting a measured signal at the counter electrode; and determining one or more characteristics of the measured signal; wherein the one or more characteristics of the measured signal are indicative of one or more characteristics of the microorganisms on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a surface, wherein a biofilm is present on the surface; a flat, patterned electrode having a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reference electrode positioned between the working electrode and the counter electrode, the flat, patterned electrode positioned proximate the surface in non-contact relationship with the surface, wherein the flat, patterned electrode and the surface are submerged in an aqueous medium and wherein the flat, patterned electrode is further positioned such that the flat, patterned electrode is not in contact with the biofilm; a signal source coupled to the flat, patterned electrode, the signal source configured to apply an alternating current potential at the working electrode at one or more frequencies; and one or more processing devices configured to detect a measured alternating current at the counter electrode, the one or more processing devices further configured to determine one or more impedance parameters associated with the surface based at least in part on the applied potential and the measured current; wherein the one or more impedance parameters are indicative of microbial activity associated with the biofilm. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification