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Electrode system for the determination of microbial populations
T Matsunaga1, I Karube, S Suzuki
1Research Laboratory of Resources Utilization, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 227 Japan.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|January 1, 1979
Summary
A novel electrode system accurately measures microbial populations in real-time. This electrochemical method offers reproducible results for monitoring yeast and bacteria in fermentation processes.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Accurate microbial population monitoring is crucial for industrial fermentation.
- Traditional methods can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a new electrochemical electrode system for microbial population determination.
- To assess the system's response time, reproducibility, and accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Constructed a two-electrode system with platinum anodes and silver peroxide cathodes.
- Utilized a cellulose dialysis membrane on the reference electrode anode.
- Measured current differences between electrodes in microbial cultures.
Main Results:
- The electrode system exhibited a 15-minute response time in culture broth.
- Current differences correlated directly with microbial cell populations.
- Demonstrated reproducibility with an average relative error of 5% for Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus fermentum.
- Successfully enabled continuous estimation of S. cerevisiae populations in a fermentor.
Conclusions:
- The developed electrochemical electrode system provides a rapid and reproducible method for microbial population analysis.
- This technique is suitable for real-time monitoring in fermentation processes.
- Offers a promising alternative to conventional microbial quantification methods.
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