Page 5 - Emerging Technologies

Groundwater is a vital natural resource; it provides drinking, household, and irrigation water across the country and the world. Over half of the United States population relies on groundwater as their drinking water source.¹ Unfortunately, in some geographical regions, groundwater supplies are at risk of depletion and contamination. Pollutants can originate from septic systems, landfills, underground oil and gas tanks, and various atmospheric contaminants. Emerging issues to assess in groundwater testing are the impacts of hydraulic fracturing, sea water intrusion, and microplastics accumulation.  

In the US, organizations like the US Geological Survey (USGS) sample and analyze groundwater to monitor water availability and water quality. Scientists run tests on the physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of groundwater sources, and use this data to monitor and forecast how these factors might be impacted by increasing human consumption and climate change.

Mixed cellulose

Water molecules are ubiquitous, vital, and may have the world’s most well-known chemical formula (H₂O). The properties of water are quite unique; its solid state is less dense than its liquid state, raising pressure lowers its melting point, and it exists as a liquid at room temperature despite low molecular mass. Even more unique is the water molecule’s ability to exist as two distinct nuclear configurations called spin isomers.

The two spin isomers of water molecules differ based on the direction of the nuclear spin of the two hydrogen nuclei. If the two hydrogen nuclei have parallel spins, the molecule is known as ortho-water. If the two hydrogen nuclei have opposite spins, the molecule is known as para-water. Water at room temperature always contains a mix of these two spin isomers and, until recently, it has been nearly impossible to study them separately.

Now a study co-authored by Stefan Willitsch at the University of Basel has successfully isolated the two forms of water and found

A recent study from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 9 of 10 people live in environments that expose them daily to elevated levels of air pollution.¹ This contributes to staggering 7 million deaths a year from related diseases.1The danger is largely posed by fine particles less than 10 (PM₁₀) and 2.5 (PM_2.5) micrometers which may pass through the nose and extend beyond the heart and lungs to the brain and cause health problems; these can also affect the environment.¹ US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 201A is commonly used to monitor PM₁₀, and PM_2.5 for air quality control. Air is withdrawn through two sizing cyclones, and then collected on an EPA approved PTFE membrane filter. After a sample is obtained, gravimetric analysis is used to determine the particulate mass for each size fraction. The PM_2.5 mass is determined by adding the mass of particulates captured on the PTFE filter and the ≤ 2.5 μm wash.^2,3

Sterlitech is now offering PTFE PM_2.5 membranes

Crystalline silica, most commonly found in the form of quartz, is a basic component of the earth; it’s found in soil, sand granite, and other minerals. During many industrial processes, crystalline silica is released as particles that are 100 times smaller than beach sand.¹ Due to their size, these mineral particles cannot easily be cleared by human lungs. Instead, they persist in the respiratory system and form scar tissue, contributing to serious health problems for those experiencing prolonged exposure. The associated silicosis and other forms of cancer are a threat to workers in mining, construction, and other industrial trades.²

There is a global awareness of this seriousness of this issue, and the World Health Organization has published assessment documents detailing the negative health effects of exposure. Here in the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)  released a Final Rule on Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica, to provide guidance

Sterlitech now offers transparent polyester track-etch (PETE) membrane filters with sufficient clarity to perform high resolution optical imaging through the membrane.  The key attribute of this material is a special, low density pore structure that mitigates light diffusion and renders the filters highly translucent. Furthermore, the membrane has very uniform thickness and flat surfaces so tissue cultures lie in one focal plane. Our transparent PETE filters are available in the 0.4 µm pore size rating commonly used for cell cultures.

Track-etch membranes have a long history of use in tissue culture experimentation, including use in multiwell plates and cell culture inserts. These membranes can act as scaffolding to create physiological microenvironments promoting growth of attachment-dependent cell cultures. The pore structures in this material allow for nutrient and environmental access to both the free surface (apical) and attached surface (basolateral) of cells. The successful growth

Environmental educators in Pensacola are acquainting kids with water filtration in a new, hands-on way. Instead of a class turtle, these students are raising baby oysters. This program is sponsored by the Pensacola Bay Oyster Company and supports a local nonprofit, the Bream Fisherman Association, in its efforts to educate a new generation on marine wildlife preservation. Students contribute to the efforts to expand oyster populations in Pensacola Bay by purchasing and raising baby oysters (spat). It is a challenging and rewarding task, as baby oysters are not easily cared for. They are sensitive to salinity and other environmental changes, and must be maintained in the proper environment 2 feet below the water’s surface. The juvenile oyster cages must be periodically monitored and cleaned. Only after nine months of attention are the oysters mature enough to be placed in reefs or farms.

Leave it to Google to shine a light on our next generation of young scientists! As we start getting ready for the 2017 academic year, Sterlitech decided to look back at last year’s Google Science Fair awards. One group of clever kids caught our attention by winning the 2016 Scientific American Innovator Award with a subject near and dear to our hearts: filtration. They made filters from a unique source – waste Styrofoam packing!

There’s no shortage of news stories on a tiny bacterium continuing to cause big trouble; Legionella. In a recent search of Google News, 1800 different stories from across the globe are revealed for June of this year when searched strictly against the term “Legionella.” Illustrations of how serious a threat is this bacterium can be are seen across the variety of the news stories; from people becoming infected after using contaminated showers in gyms, hotels, hospitals, to babies born in birthing pools, basic residential water supplies, and even a simple backyard garden hose. So, what is this nasty little microorganism, and why is it still causing trouble? To look closer, let’s revisit two newsletter stories Sterlitech originally published back in December 2010 and April 2011 respectively.