When we launched the concept of 2nd Generation ATP testing in 2003, we manufactured a microbiological test kit that had the capacity to measure total microorganisms in the wastewater treatment application providing results in less than five minutes so problem areas could be identified quickly. However, we immediately saw the value in optimizing our test kit to test for microbial activity in various applications in addition to wastewater. Therefore at the heart of LuminUltra is our robust suite of microbiological test kits that measure total microorganisms in any type of water, wastewater and organic fluid application.

While science drove innovation in the early years, our customers are now at the centre of our business activities and are our motivation for improving our product line.  This week were excited to announce the improvements made to our Luminase^TM reagent - switching it from a liquid form (shelf-life of 6 months) to a freeze-dried form (shelf-life of over 1 year); not to mention the improvements made to our 2nd Generation ATP testing methods by minimizing the amount of pipetting required through pre-dispensed reagents thereby reducing the number of steps required to perform a test. This is just the beginning for LuminUltra; stay tuned for more new and exciting announcements to come!

Simplified Test Methods

We are pleased to announce that we have minimized the amount of pipetting required through pre-dispensed reagents and changed to fixed volume, easy-to-use micropipettors plus disposable, single use bulb pipets, saving our customers the additional cost of extra pipet tips and test tubes. Test methods which were performed  previously in six steps now only take four steps to perform, giving you results in less than five minutes!

For more information, please leave a comment or send us an email at sales@luminultra.com.

HACH Company was founded in 1947 and is committed to providing high-quality products that are simple to use and accurate. They specialize in offering analytical instruments and reagents that are used to test the quality of water in a variety of industries and markets.

For more information on HACH please visit their website at www.hach.com and for a listing of LuminUltra’s products click here.

Surprisingly enough, the general public and even many water professionals remain hesitant to accept biological water treatment. Findings presented by Evans et al¹ as part of WaterRF Project 4129 concluded that while vendors, academics, and consultants seem to be mostly in favour of this practice, utilities and regulators are the most cautious of its adoption.  Also, not only do biological water treatment processes not seem to be generally accepted by the drinking water industry in the same way as conventional treatment, but the most recent data presented shows that the industry is even less supportive of biological treatment now than it was five years ago.  The main concerns seem to be the possibility of biomass sloughing from the filter causing pathogen breakthrough and downstream process instability.  While these concerns are understandable considering that a biological population is being cultivated in a drinking water process, this general feeling comes at a time when the data could not be more supportive of biological treatment as a viable and effective method of raw water pre-treatment. For proof of this, one need look no further than the findings presented at the recent Biological Water Treatment Symposium mentioned above, but for those unable to attend, biological filtration will no doubt be a focal point in the upcoming AWWA Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE13) in Denver, Colorado.

At the end of the day, education is key to inform the masses of the benefits of this concept. The industry continues to move forward with groundbreaking work to further optimize biological filter design and operation and increase the awareness amongst water managers, and perhaps one of the best examples of this is a project that is currently underway through the Water Research Foundation. WaterRF Project #4459 (Development of a Biofiltration Knowledge Base/Registry) is being led as a group effort between Carollo Engineers and Arcadis and involves dozens of participating utilities.  The goal of this project is to collect data from these sites and create a link between strategies employed and the resulting performance that is achieved.  LuminUltra is excited to be involved in this project through the use of our rapid biological monitoring capabilities, both in terms of quantifying the level of biological energy present in filters as well as a real-time indication of upstream loading as well as downstream loading on disinfection.  The list of utilities that use LuminUltra’s Deposit & Surface Analysis (DSA) and Quench-Gone Aqueous (QGA) test kits for biological quantification in media and water samples, respectively, grows month by month and with it, so does the body of evidence supporting 2^nd generation ATP monitoring as an effective tool for biological filtration process control.

¹Evans, P; Smith, J; Opitz, E; Daniel, P; Schulz, C; WaterRF Project 4129: Biological Drinking Water Treatment: Insights From Multi-Stakeholder Survey and Case Studies;  CDMSmith/Water Research Foundation 2013.

The concept of biological filtration has become a common means to remove organics prior to disinfection to minimize formation of disinfection by-products. However, the tools available to assess biological growth tendencies in biological filters are limited. Heterotrophic Plate Counts and other culture-based methods take days to obtain results, only measure very small portions of the true microbial population, and struggle with the ability of quantifying cells attached to media. Effective monitoring and control of biological filters can now be achieved through 2^nd Generation ATP measurement technology from LuminUltra. Through optimized test protocols, a direct and quantitative measure of biological activity can be determined within 5 minutes of sample collection. In addition, unlike culture-based tests that only reveal microbes that grow in the media used and within the timeframe provided, no species of microorganism goes undetected.

What do the results tell me?

Assess filter capacity in terms of biomass population size as it relates to organics removal.

• Quantify the biological population at the beginning and end of filter runs to determine the magnitude of growth that occurred during the cycle.
• Investigate the amount of biomass purged from the filter during backwash cycles.  Once a baseline has been established for normal operation at the beginning and end of filter runs, targets can be established to optimize the duration of backwash cycles to minimize downtime while avoiding the release of too much or too little biomass.
• Compare biomass response to various process modifications including nutrient supplementation, pre-oxidation, or pH control.

Where do I test?

Direct analyses of biological filter media provide the most direct indication of biological activity within the filter. Testing at different depths can indicate how much growth is occurring as the water progresses further through the bed as the organics are broken down. Analyses can also be done on the bulk water pre- and post-filtration to assess influent loading and potentially reveal sloughing in the effluent.

Test Method for Biological Filter Media

ATP from microorganisms attached to biological filter media is analyzed using LuminUltra’s Deposit & Surface Analysis (DSA) test protocol. This test kit is optimized for testing of sessile build-ups and in addition to biological filter media, this method is also effective for testing biofilm on pipe and tank walls, weighed deposits, and swabbed surfaces.

NOTE: Prior to analyzing biological filter media, remove as much water from the sample as possible prior. The most effective way of doing this is by spreading out several grams of media onto filter paper and using vacuum filtration to draw the water out of the media.

1.  EXTRACTION: Obtain a portion of the deposit and weigh 1g of sample. If desired, a volumetric measurement (e.g. 1mL) can also be used. Add this to a 5mL UltraLyse 7 (Extraction) Tube.  Cap and mix the contents of the tube vigorously to disperse the deposit throughout the fluid Allow 5 minutes for the extract to incubate.

TIP: tATP Extracts can be capped and stored between 2 to 8^oC for up to 1 week prior to dilution.

2.  DILUTION: Use a micropipettor to transfer 1mL from the UltraLyse 7 (Extraction) Tube to a 9mL UltraLute (Dilution) Tube. Cap and invert three times to mix.

NOTE: At this point, the contents of the Dilution Tube are stable at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

3.  ASSAY: Using a new pipet tip, transfer 100µL from the UltraLute (Dilution) Tube to a new 12x55mm test tube (the Assay Tube), and use another new pipet tip to add 100µL of Luminase, swirl gently five times, immediately insert into the luminometer and measure. Record RLU_tATP manually, or directly in LumiCalc.

NOTE: When RLU_tATP ≤ 50 on a Kikkoman Lumitester C-100 or C-110, it is recommended that you measure and subtract RLU_bg from your measurement.  See Diagnostics and Troubleshooting in your standard test kit instructions.

NOTE: If “Scale Over” is returned, repeat the analysis using less media or greater dilution.  Contact LuminUltra for more information.

Calculations

Total ATP (tATP) – measures all ATP within a sample, including ATP from living cells in addition to ATP that has been released from dead cells.

NOTE: Because the biofilm contained on biological media is largely living biomass, it is not necessary to measure Dissolved ATP (dATP).  In other words, you can assume that tATP_Media = cATP_Media.

• Process Surfaces 
• Biofilm Collection Devices
• Solid Deposits
• Slimes

This webinar will take you step-by-step through the test and provide an in-depth protocol analysis so that you get the most value from your microbiological monitoring program.

Click here to sign up!