Electronic tongue for microcystin screening in waters

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Cyanobacterial blooms can produce microcystins (MCs), potent toxins harmful to aquatic ecosystems and human health.
• Accurate and rapid detection of MCs in water is crucial for environmental monitoring and public health protection.
• Current standard methods like UHPLC-DAD are accurate but time-consuming and require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a potentiometric E-tongue system for water toxicity estimation based on MCs detection.
• To correlate E-tongue data with established analytical techniques (UHPLC-DAD and colorimetric methods).
• To assess the potential of the E-tongue for field applications in environmental monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A potentiometric E-tongue system was utilized for water sample analysis.
• Data from the E-tongue were compared against results from Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detector (UHPLC-DAD).
• Colorimetric enzymatic assays were also used for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• The E-tongue system accurately predicted MCs content, achieving a Root Mean Squared Error of Validation (RMSEV) close to the WHO guideline value of 1 µg/L.
• The system demonstrated the capability to differentiate between toxin-producing and non-toxic Microcystis aeruginosa strains.
• The E-tongue analysis showed strong correlation with the standard UHPLC-DAD method.

Conclusions:

• The potentiometric E-tongue is a viable tool for rapid and cost-effective water toxicity assessment concerning MCs.
• This technology offers a promising alternative for on-site environmental monitoring of cyanobacterial toxins.
• The E-tongue system enhances the ability to manage risks associated with harmful algal blooms in water bodies.