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Construction of a Low-cost Mobile Incubator for Field and Laboratory Use
Published on: March 19, 2019
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Novel materials enable a low-cost temperature-light gradient incubator for microbial studies
Gordon V Wolfe1, William H H Reeder1, Bryan Ervin1
1Dept. Biological Sciences, California State Univ. Chico, Chico, CA-95929-0515, USA.
Journal of Microbiological Methods
|December 24, 2013
Summary
Researchers developed a low-cost incubator using graphite foam and LED lights. This novel device enables efficient studies of microbial growth, enrichment, and isolation under controlled light and temperature gradients.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Incubators are essential for controlling microbial growth conditions.
- Current incubators can be expensive and lack precise gradient control.
- Novel materials offer potential for improved incubator design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct a cost-effective temperature-light gradient incubator.
- To utilize a novel graphite foam material for incubator fabrication.
- To demonstrate the incubator's utility in microbial studies.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a thermally-conductive graphite foam.
- Integration of a variable-intensity LED light array.
- Construction of a combined light-temperature gradient incubator.
Main Results:
- The incubator utilizes lightweight, chemically resistant, and economically viable graphite foam.
- The device provides precise control over light and temperature gradients.
- Successful demonstration of microbial growth, enrichment, and isolation.
Conclusions:
- The novel graphite foam incubator offers a low-cost, efficient alternative for microbial research.
- This technology facilitates advanced studies in microbiology and biotechnology.
- The material's properties make it suitable for various laboratory applications.
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