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Modifying the Surface Charge of Pathogen‐Sized Microspheres for Studying Pathogen Transport in Groundwater
Author(s) -
Pang L.,
Nowostawska U.,
Ryan J. N.,
Williamson W. M.,
Walshe G.,
Hunter K. A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2008.0451
Subject(s) - zeta potential , surface charge , pathogen , groundwater , microorganism , microsphere , chemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , chemical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , nanoparticle , bacteria , biology , geology , geotechnical engineering , genetics , engineering
Consuming pathogen‐contaminated groundwater has caused many waterborne disease worldwide. Microspheres are often used as pathogen surrogates because they can be made similar to pathogens in terms of their sizes, buoyant densities, and shapes. Laboratory studies have, however, shown that the surface charges of microspheres are very different from those of pathogens of comparable sizes, and that their attenuation and transport behaviors differ significantly to those of the pathogens mimicked. Thus, for microspheres to be better surrogates, their surface charges need to be modified. We have demonstrated that the surface charge of a microorganism can be closely mimicked by microspheres covalently coated with a protein that has a similar pH PZC to the microorganism. Using MS2 bacteriophage to test our concept, 20 nm carboxylated microspheres were covalently coated with casein. Zeta potentials as a function of pH were determined for purified MS2, casein, and uncoated and coated microspheres. The uncoated microspheres were significantly more negatively charged than MS2. The coated microspheres displayed zeta potentials and a pH PZC value similar to MS2. The modified surface charge on the microspheres was stable for at least 4 mo. Using the concept developed from this study, surrogates for many specific pathogens of concern can be developed, and the results can be corrected with pathogen die‐off determined independently in the laboratory. Protein‐coated microspheres could provide a new and alternative approach to investigate pathogen transport in groundwater. Future research is required to validate the surrogates' resemblances to pathogens in terms of their attenuation and transport behaviors in groundwater.