Design And Development Of Portable Systems For Environmental Monitoring And Microbial Disinfection

Abstract

The water we drink and the air we breathe contain a lot of toxins that can harm our health. Reducing environmental concerns can be achieved by infection control, good hygiene, and pollution monitoring. This synopsis discusses the design and development of portable, cost-effective and resource-efficient devices for microbial disinfection and environmental monitoring. The thesis is organized into four chapters. newlineAn overview of the design process for portable air sanitization devices and a miniature optical sensing system for antibiotic detection in water is provided in the first chapter. This includes literature review, research gap identification and the development of research objectives is presented. Chapter 2 delves into the design of air disinfection systems with a focus on healthcare worker safety. It introduces a portable UV sanitizer unit attached to a powered air purifier respirator, providing Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation to the breathing air. The effectiveness of this UV sanitization unit exceeds 90%, as validated through microbiological tests. newlineThe third chapter details the development of a novel colorimetric assay for detecting antibiotics in water, specifically gentamicin. The assay, based on the iron-dependent lipid peroxidation mechanism, offers a faster, cost-effective alternative to existing methods. It was validated with spiked water samples, demonstrating greater recovery and selectivity. Chapter 4 discusses the development of an optical device for antibiotic detection using lab-on-a-chip technology. The optical sensor, correlating color intensity with antibiotic concentration, exhibited linear variation. A microfluidic chip model, developed using COMSOL Multiphysics software, coupled with a newly developed automated syringe pump, provides a foundation for creating and affordable tools for antibiotic monitoring. newlineThe thesis contributes to the advancement of portable technologies for microbial disinfection and environmental monitoring. The chapters cover a spectrum of innovations, such as UV