Our strategy for the development of low-cost, portable sensors for the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is currently focused on the optimisation of a gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assay. Colorimetric assays rely on a colour change in the presence of a targeted compound. In this case, a change from red to blue happens in the presence of PAHs, where the intensity of blue will increase as the concentration of PAHs increases. Application of a colorimetric assay for analysis of PAHs in urban water runoff samples will allow performing quick measurements on site (in the order of minutes) with minimal reagent consumption and waste generation. Furthermore, current work by DCU is focused on the integration of this assay with a smartphone. The use of a smartphone camera will facilitate quick and user-friendly imaging of coloured samples in the field, which in turn allows for ubiquitous use of our sensing platform and the rapid transfer of data through wireless connectivity. These current focuses and on-going efforts were presented by Caoilte (PhD student) at the DCU’s ‘Chemistry Day’ hosted by the School of Chemical Sciences on 19th May. This yearly event is an opportunity for postgraduate researchers to present their work to their peers in order to inspire collaboration and encourage knowledge sharing among postgraduate researchers. Awareness of the Waterun EU Project and its objectives were conveyed throughout the talk highlighting how microfluidic-based colorimetric sensing platforms can contribute to the project’s success in monitoring urban diffuse pollution in water runoff.
We have also started our sampling campaing for determination of microplastics in water runoff. Néstor (Erasmus+ Trainee) and Marianna (undergraduate student) were recently collecting rain samples in DCU campus, which allowed testing different sample collection methods. Samples were collected from different sources, e.g. gutters, drains, paths surrounding football pitches, etc, with some containing large amounts of suspended particulate matter. Threfore, we are currently working on sample preparation methods suitable for field analysis of microplastics in these kind of samples. We will take this opportunity to heartly thank Néstor for his great work in this project and wish him all the best in his future endeveours as he has now concluded his traineship with us at DCU. Thanks Néstor!
Caoilte presenting WATERUN Project at DCU’s Chemistry Day (left) and Néstor collecting runoff water samples in
DCU campus during a rain event using the sheet flow technique (right).
Authors: DCU Team (Contact: mercedes.vazquez@dcu.ie, caoilte.orourkeocuirrin43@mail.dcu.ie) - 31/05/2023