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In Situ Determination of Chlorella Concentration Using Single Entity Electrochemistry
Summary
Researchers developed an electrochemical method for detecting individual algal cells in real time using an ultramicroelectrode and single-particle collision technique. The approach could distinguish individual Chlorella cells and relate collision frequency to algal concentration, offering potential for early detection of harmful algal blooms. While not directly focused on microplastics, the method provides a platform for monitoring water quality impacts related to microplastic-linked eutrophication.
Harmful algal blooms pose significant risks to water resource management and aquatic ecosystem health, rendering early detection of algal bloom proliferation essential. In this study, we present an electrochemical strategy for the real-time detection of individual Chlorella cells using the single-particle collision method at an ultramicroelectrode (UME). The detection principle relies on monitoring changes in the redox probe flux at the UME induced by attachment of the target. Both diffusional and migrational transport were considered to promote particle collision at the UME. Detection sensitivity for negatively charged microalgae was enhanced by exploiting migration effects. To control migration strength, neutral and charged redox probes were selected, and the ionic strength was adjusted to tune electrostatic attraction, yielding microalgae capture on the UME with a collision frequency that depended on the solution composition. Conversely, migration was suppressed by increasing the ionic strength, and inverse migration was implemented, and resulting collision responses were compared. Furthermore, COMSOL Multiphysics simulations were used to estimate the size of detected Chlorella cells. The collision frequencies expected from diffusion and migration were compared with the experimental values, and a calibration curve relating collision frequency to Chlorella concentration was established. Consequently, this methodology provides a promising platform for the early monitoring of algal blooms by simultaneously determining microalgal size and concentration.
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