Detection and quantification of pathogens in water is critical for the protection of human health and for drinking water safety and security. When the pathogen concentrations are low, large sample volumes (several liters) are needed to achieve reliable quantitative results. However, most microbial identification methods utilize relatively small sample volumes. As a consequence, a concentration step is often required in order to detect pathogens in natural waters. Herein, we introduce a novel water sample concentration method based on superabsorbent polymer (SAP) beads. When SAP beads swell with water, small molecules can be sorbed within the polymer beads, but large particles are excluded and, thus, concentrated in the residual non-sorbed water. To illustrate this approach, millimeter-sized poly(acrylamide-co-itaconic acid) (P(AM-co-IA)) beads are synthesized and successfully applied to concentrate water samples containing two model microorganisms: <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) and bacteriophage MS2. This new water sample concentration procedure is very fast, effective, scalable, and low-cost with no need for complex instrumentation.

Concentrating microorganisms in water samples by super-absorbent polymer beads

251st National Meeting (2016)

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