Online Microbiological Analysis Research

Microbiological Analysis and High Removal

Major objectives: Develop (a) high rejection membrane and (b) analytical instruments that ensure the high removal of pathogens.

Key Researcher:  Sandrine Boivin

Online Bacterial Counts

Real-time bacteriological counter is capable of providing bacterial counts, which can be used for integrity monitoring of membranes and sand filter.

Publications: Environmental Science and Technology Letters 2018, Chemosphere 2019, EST Water  2021, Science of The Total Environment 2022

Microbiological Surrogate Indicators

Bacteria (>0.2 µm) can be used as a surrogate indicator of protozoa (>10 µm) (e.g. Cryptosporidium and Giardia) for RO treatment.

Publications: Science of the Total Environment 2019

Pre-treatment techniques for online Bacterial Counts

Hemodiafilter pretreatment was successfully adopted to facilitate online counting of bacteria in river water, dam water, and a membrane bioreactor’s effluent.

Publications: Environmental Science and Technology Water 2021, Science of the Total Environment 2020, Science of the Total Environment 2022 

High Rejection RO

Development of high integrity RO membrane for pathogen removal helps to provide a higher LRV for integrity monitoring.

Publications: Environmental Science: Water and Research Technology 2019