Instant identification of contaminates in water
ability to instantly detect pathogens and microbial contamination,
say its developers.
The BioSentry system, developed by US-based JMAR, could be a boost for beverage manufactures who want to ensure water quality in their products. The system is the first product of its kind to provide real-time, continuous surveillance of water for the threat of thousands of known microbe contaminates.
Currently, microbiology testing takes time before results can be obtained - usually 24 hours or longer. With ever-tighter margins and pressure on beverage manufacturers to deliver quality, the system will allow for potential threats to be caught before they can get to consumers.
JMAR's Vice President of the sensor products group, John Ricardi, explained to FoodProductionDaily-usa.com that the system uses multi-angle light scattering lasers to detect contaminate patterns.
"As water passes through the laser it creates a light-scattering pattern and different organisms have different signature patterns," said Ricardi. "The signature is then compared to thousands of bugs that are stored in the system for a potential match."
If the system gets a hit for a known microbe-contaminate manufacturers will be alerted. This allows for the almost immediate warning of potential pathogens in their water supply, said Ricardi.
BioSentry was originally developed for Homeland Security applications in mind due to concerns that the nation's water supply could be a potential target for a biological terrorist attack.
The system proved it was up to such a large-scale task with the successful monitoring of Anaheim city's water supply. The success of the 60-day trial has led the city of Wichita to purchase two devices to monitor quality and security at its municipal water plant.
However, beverage companies are also seeing the benefits for safety and quality that continuous surveillance will bring. This year Kimpen, Mexico's leading beverage development and manufacturing company, bought two BioSentry devices after successful tests were conducted at their manufacturing site, said Ricardi.
The system has also completed successful testing with Princess Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation, who are now using BioSentry to monitor their onboard water supply.
San Diego based JMAR was founded in 1987 to develop semiconductor lithography for telecommunications applications. The company now specializes in laser-based technology and x-ray processes.
