(212c) Optoelectrokinetic Trapping of Escherichia coli in Water

At least 30% of the world’s population drink water from sources contaminated with feces and as a result, high loads of Escherichia coli. It is also one of the risk factors responsible for the death of 361,000 children yearly, due to preventable water sanitation-related diarrheal diseases.

This procedure traps E. coli and other bio-particles by the simultaneous application of laser power and Alternating Current(AC) frequency through a microfluidic chip. Its success with microorganisms is based on critical frequency, laser intensity, voltage and bio-particle size. The trapping ability of this technique will ensure continual access to particle-free water for the populace.

Preliminary experiments have shown that increasing concentrations of E. coli in the microfluidic chamber varies directly with the electrical resistance of the entire system and indicates that the trapping AC frequency of E. coli is within the range of 15kHz - 40KHz.This on-going research can be successfully used to isolate, monitor and quantify E. coli in streams and other drinking water sources.