Superabsorber Concentrator for Automated Biological Target Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting biological target substances in liquids, such as water or wastewater, face challenges in efficiently concentrating low-concentration substances and transferring them to detection units without significant volume loss or loss of target substances during the process.
Innovation Solution
The use of superabsorbers to concentrate biological target substances in a sample liquid by reducing the volume of the liquid through absorption of water, while keeping the target substances in the remaining liquid, allowing for a high concentration of biomolecules in a small volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large volume of water is conducted through filter medium to retain target substances, then sufficient amount of target substance is obtained for analysis, but the liquid cannot be reintroduced to the process and significant volume loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous adsorption medium with specifically tailored pore structures and surface properties to selectively concentrate target substances. The porous material captures biomolecules through adsorption mechanisms while allowing the bulk liquid to be recovered and returned to the process, thus obtaining sufficient target substance without significant liquid volume loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the adsorption medium to optimize target substance retention. By adjusting parameters such as pore size, surface charge, and hydrophobicity of the adsorption medium, the system achieves effective concentration of low-concentration biomolecules while minimizing liquid loss.
2Quantity of substance
If substance is transferred from filter or adsorption medium to analysis module by lysis and elution, then target substance is released, but only a relatively small proportion enters the analysis module and large volume with low concentration results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the target substance directly from the adsorption medium into a small volume of elution buffer through optimized elution conditions. By carefully controlling elution parameters such as buffer composition, pH, and temperature, the system achieves high recovery efficiency with minimal eluate volume, thereby maintaining high concentration in the analysis module.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses an intermediary elution buffer with specifically designed properties to facilitate efficient transfer of target substance from the adsorption medium to the analysis module. The buffer acts as a mediator that selectively releases bound biomolecules while minimizing co-elution of impurities and maintaining high concentration.
3Reliability
If manual sampling and laboratory analysis are used, then detection can be performed, but automated online detection is not achieved and significant time and resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sampling, concentration, and detection functions into a single integrated online analysis system. The concentrator unit with adsorption medium is directly coupled to the detection module, eliminating the need for separate manual sampling and laboratory analysis steps. This integration enables fully automated online detection while maintaining detection accuracy through controlled concentration processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements self-service automation where the system automatically performs sampling, concentration, and detection without manual intervention. The concentrator unit autonomously concentrates target substances from process streams and feeds the concentrated sample directly to the detection module, enabling continuous automated online monitoring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables efficient concentration of biological target substances, allowing for low-volume analysis even with low initial concentrations, and facilitates automated online detection without the need for manual sampling or laboratory analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The use of superabsorbers to concentrate biological target substances in a sample liquid by reducing the volume of the liquid through absorption of water
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for concentrating at least one biological target substance in a sample liquid, which can be carried out using control electronics. The method includes metering and transporting a first initial volume of the sample liquid via a liquid supply line into a first concentrator chamber of a concentrator unit, and generating concentrated sample liquid by reducing the first initial volume of the sample liquid in the concentrator unit and associated concentration of the at least one biological target substance contained in the first volume of the sample liquid by means of a first amount of a superabsorber. The reduction and associated concentration is carried out by incubating a mixture formed from the first initial volume of the sample liquid with the first amount of the superabsorber.