PROJECT CO-FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
At the end of the project, the following results are expected:
- A commercial kit for ATP determination to be used in microbial count and/or acute toxicity analyses.
- A prototype of a discrete inline analyser with fully automated robotic technology for the determination of ATP with consequent estimation of microbial counts in seawater.
- A fully automated system for cell pre-concentration and lysis in seawater, functionally integrated with an on-line analyser.
- Process parameters and experimental data can provide evidence of the proficiency of the ATP determination-based method and a linear correlation with traditional techniques for heterotrophic plate counts.
- A review of possible alternative applications for the integrated on-line system with a preconcentrator in fresh and marine waters.
- A user-friendly portable device prototype for ATP determination and subsequent microbial count estimation for on-site use in potentially compromised environmental contexts or for routine watershed quality control.
- A new tool for monitoring the presence of microorganisms in ballast water to prevent the release of potentially endemic microbial populations into the sea.
- A new method for the assessment of acute toxicity in wastewater and freshwater based on ATP inhibition which can be used in an on-line analyser and a portable system.
- A new tool for monitoring toxicity in incoming effluents based on ATP activity inhibition.
- An overview of possible alternative applications for the portable system in fresh and salt water.
Financial support received
For the realisation of the project, a total investment of €487,912.00 has been approved, with a grant of €157,502.75. The funding resources refer to Application ref. no. A0613-2023-078193 – PR FESR LAZIO 2021-2027 Public notice “Competitive repositioning RSI pursuant to Decree no. G18823 of 28/12/2022 – Area 2 “Maritime Economy, Green Economy and Agrifood” CUP: F89J23000800007.