Research Projects

Industrialization and urbanization have led to high levels of chemical pollutants in water bodies globally, making water quality monitoring crucial for drinking water safety and aquatic ecosystem health. Conventional methods are time-consuming, expensive, and require specialized equipment and trained personnel. They do not provide real-time data, limiting their effectiveness in identifying pollution events and responding quickly. This project aims to supplement these methods by developing a bioelectrochemical sensor that acts as an early-warning system for detecting pesticides in real time. The sensor will use electroactive microorganisms as indicator organisms, responding to various pesticide concentrations from 0.05 to 2 ppm. The bioelectrochemical sensor will operate in microbial fuel cell mode, minimizing costs and maintenance. The project will evaluate microbial communities from different environments for their biosensing abilities and identify microbial community members through DNA sequencing. Wireless communication will be incorporated into the biosensor, enabling data collection without direct physical access. The project aims to advance water quality monitoring by developing a bioelectrochemical sensor as an early warning detector, enabling local authorities to quickly identify and respond to pollution events, protecting public health, and preserving water resources.