Research & Reviews: Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
MenuE- ISSN: 2320 - 3528
P- ISSN: 2347 - 2286
E- ISSN: 2320 - 3528
P- ISSN: 2347 - 2286
Melany Avellaneda, Santiago Xavier Mafla*, Moraima Mera
Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador Sede Ibarra
Received: 17-Feb-2023, Manuscript No. JMB-23-89459; Editor assigned: 20-Feb-2023, PreQC No. JMB-23-89459(PQ); Reviewed: 06-Mar-2023, QC No. JMB-23-89459; Revised: 20-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. JMB-23-89459(R); Published: 27-Mar-2023, DOI: 10.4172/2320-3528.12.2.002.
Citation: Mafla SX, et al. Comparison of a Biosensor and a Commercial UV-Visible Method for Measuring Hexavalent Chromium in Liquid Medium. RRJ Microbiol Biotechnol. 2023;12:002
Copyright: © 2023 Avellaneda M, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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The objective of the research was to contrast two methods for the quantification of hexavalent chromium. The first method is the biosensor that from the gene transformation of the cells of Escherichia coli, was incorporated by electroporation the plasmid pTOP Blunt V2, synthesized with luxA genes that provides luminescence through the catalytic activity of the luciferase top and chr genes that give the bacteria resistance to chromium. The second method is the application of the UV-visible colorimetric technique. Chromium was analysed at different concentrations, from 0.05 mgl−1 (maximum allowable limit for human consumption); 0.1 mgl−1; 0.2 mgl−1; 0.4 mgl−1; 0.8 mgl−1 and 1 mgl−1 with 5 replicates, subsequent to this, the two methods of chromium analysis were applied in river samples, thus obtaining that the biosensor in concentrations of 2 × 106 CFU of Escherichia coli, has a margin of error of 1.4%, a result derived from the coefficient of determination of the absorbance of chromium, unlike the UV-visible method with the colorimetric equipment, which presented a reading error of 3.9%.
Escherichia coli; Chromium; Biotechnology; Bacteria; Concentration; Biosensor
One of the methodologies currently applied to determine and quantify contaminants present in water are chemical analyzes, which can reach the detection of Parts Per Trillion (ppt); since they are considered the most sophisticated. These chemical analyses require pretreatment to preserve the sample during transfer to the laboratory, to avoid altering the results. This occurs, for example, in gas chromatography and mass detection analyzes; expensive and large equipment that requires its use in the laboratory [1]. Another type of process used corresponds to biological tests or bioassays; some of the biosensors are devices composed of bacteria, combining biotechnology and microelectronics to form an analytical device, reducing the time used for the analysis of contaminants in the water. In this way, it is desired to implement new processes for the detection of toxic pollutants, efficiently replacing conventional methods at lower cost and time [2].
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers chromium as one of the 10 most toxic and harmful transition metals for health and the environment, in its hexavalent form; currently exceeding the maximum permissible limits of 0.05 mgl−1 for water for human consumption [3]. The national water quality strategy (ENCA) indicates that in Ecuador the quality of water has deteriorated in recent years due to anthropic activity and industrial chemical processes, producing waste with toxic organic and inorganic pollutant loads, such as chromium (III) and chromium (VI) which are difficult to remove and together with the poor application of environmental regulations, progressive damage to the environment is being generated [4]. At the regional level, the deficient public service, the lack of control of the emission of ecological flow, indirectly cause the discharge of uncontrolled effluents into the environment by industrial and agricultural activities, generating mixed-type waste due to the lack of wastewater collection systems. This does not allow the correct separation of industrial and urban effluents, generating poor management of water resources, loss of biodiversity, loss of environmental services and deterioration of ecosystems [5].
The objective of the research was to compare two methods for the quantification of hexavalent chromium, these being a field method known as colorimetry and the use of a bacterial biosensor that was manufactured for this study. This research has been developed to broaden the field of study, regarding the methodologies used for the detection of hexavalent chromium in water sources, whether they are for human consumption, irrigation or water trough; thus guaranteeing the protection of the environment, being a shared responsibility between society and the government, that is reducing the impacts of waste, inputs and processes; with the aim of achieving adequate environmental management in small, medium and large industries [6].
This research was carried out in the Biotechnology Laboratory of the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador Ibarra.
Elaboration of the biosensor
For the elaboration of the biosensor, the sequence of the chr gene that gives the bacterium resistance to chromium and the sequence of the lux operon to generate the optical response of the biosensor was searched in the registry of community collection of genetic sequences available in iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) to later assemble the plasmid in the Biotechnology company "Humanazing Genomics © MAROGEN Inc.". The result being the genetic synthesis described in Table 1 (MACROGEN Inc, 2018). The result of the assembly of the gene sequences produced a plasmid with a size of 1847 base pairs (bp) and a Guanine and Cytosine (GC) percentage of 60.23%. For the modification of the genes of the Escherichia coli bacteria, the electroporation method described by Bastida, used, where a Thermo Scientific ULT1230A freezer was used to prepare the competent cells, since these must be preserved at a temperature of 4ºC. After this, 10 µl of the manufactured plasmid plus 20 µl of the competent cells were taken and added in a 2 ml eppendorf tube, this mixture was centrifuged and placed in the freezer again.
| Gene size | Guanine and cytosine (GC %) |
|---|---|
| 1,847 bp | 60.23% |
Note: Data obtained from the technical description of the plasmid
Table 1. Characteristics of the plasmid sequence.
For the transformation of Escherichia coli, the electroporation neon device equipment was set at 2500 volts for 4 milliseconds and two pulses for the transmutation of Escherichia coli [7]. To prepare the electroporation equipment, the neon pipette station was connected in which the neon tube cuvette was inserted with 3 ml of electrolytic buffer with a temperature of 2ºC to 4ºC [7]. LB Broth Base broth was prepared in a 250 ml boeco bottle, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Next, 10 ml of this mixture was dispensed into 24 test tubes and sterilized with the help of the ICAN CLAVE autoclave for 40 minutes. Having the 24 test tubes already sterilized, hexavalent chromium concentrations of 0.05 mgl−1 were placed; 0.1 mgl−1; 0.2 mgl−1; 0.4 mgl−1; 0.8 mgl−1 and 1.0 mgl−1.
Next, 100 µl, equivalent to 2 × 106 CFU of the transformed cells, was added to each test tube, incubated for 2 hours and chromium analysis was carried out by the EPOCH microplate spectrophotometer method, where 100 µl was added to the cells. Samples that were previously incubated, placing the different chromium concentrations in each column of the microplate and 5 repetitions in each row. With the help of the EPOCH microplate spectrophotometer from Biotech Instruments and a computer program for data analysis Gen5 Software, the absorbance analysis of the samples was carried out to obtain the calibration curve [8].
Analysis of the process for the detection of chromium using a modified Escherichia coli strain
The Escherichia coli bacteria were seeded in quantities of 2 × 106 CFU genetically transformed in test tubes with LB Broth from the manufacturer LAB a Neogen Company (Luria Bertani)®, a medium that does not intervene in the reaction between the bacteria and the metal and provides the necessary nutrients for the bacteria, plus the transition metal, verifying their resistance and the optical response of the luciferase gene and the interaction between the metal and the medium [9-16]. For the analysis of the biosensor to detect chromium, liquid samples Figure 1 were qualified with hexavalent chromium at known concentrations of 0.05 mgl−1; 0.1 mgl−1; 0.2 mgl−1; 0.4 mgl−1; 0.8 mgl−1 and 1.0 mgl−1; indicating the presence of the metal before the different levels of luminosity directly proportional to the concentration of the toxic agent, this being the higher the concentration of metal, the more intensity of the luminescence. In the research carried out by Huelves, et al., [16] the enzyme that catalyzes the luminescence reaction is encoded in the enzymatic protein of luciferase, an operon that was modified together with the chromium resistance genes by inserting into the Escherichia coli bacteria, thus obtaining a medium that translates into light emission.
Figure 1: Qualification of the biosensor at different chromium concentrations.
Field application of the two methods to quantify hexavalent chromium
For the field application of the two methods used to quantify hexavalent chromium, the research of Jurado, et al. [10] The first method suggested uniformly sectioning the total length of the river, which consisted of 12.71 kilometres, identifying accesses, the presence of contamination by wastewater discharges Figure 2 and agricultural activities, a method applied to date in the monitoring of river samples.
Figure 2: Urban wastewater discharge point to the Pichavi river.
Two levels were raised; the macro location that determined the most representative sections according to the total length of the Pichavi river; the micro-location that implied the equivalent division of the total length of the river, with a distance of 2 km between each point, a distance that must be considered according to the different methods applied in the field for the collection of a sample, due to the estimation of the total uniform mixture of water between each section, thus generating a total of 6 points for the collection of water samples [10].
In this research, a statistical design of paired plots was applied by applying the t-student test, in order to see the relationship between the methods applied for the measurement of hexavalent chromium and define the hypothesis. For the normality of the data, the shapiro-wilk test was used [11]. Two tests were used being these cases: The first test used 6 concentrations of hexavalent chromium of 0.05 mgl−1; 0.1 mgl−1; 0.2 mgl−1; 0.4 mgl−1; 0.8 mgl−1 and 1.0 mgl−1. This served to standardize the measurement method and verify that bacteria have the potential to measure chromium. Subsequently, 6 liquid samples were taken from the Pichavi river and the biosensor technique was compared with a commercial and field technique. To compare the efficiency of the two methods, standard liquid samples and river samples were analyzed by the EPOCH microplate spectrophotometer from Biotech Instruments and with the SMART 2 colorimeter from LaMotte Company, comparing the normality of the results by means of a shapiro-wilk test.
Analysis of the physical-chemical parameters of the river
According to the results obtained in Table 2, the conductivity parameter of the 6 river water samples is within the permissible limits of the TULSMA; Total dissolved solids with a minimum value of 475 mgl−1 and a maximum of 516 mgl−1 of the 6 water samples, indicate values within the permissible ones. The results of the pH and BOD parameters indicate that the state of water quality in the environment is optimal for the development of organic matter and microorganisms, essential for oxygenation.
| Physical-chemical parameters | Maximum allowable limit | M1 | M2 | M3 | M4 | M5 | M6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conductivity µs | 0-1000 | 739 | 733 | 697 | 703 | 679 | 687 |
| Total dissolved solids mgl-1 | 1600 | 516 | 514 | 490 | 492 | 475 | 489 |
| Salinity ppm | 0-450 | 357 | 356 | 336 | 340 | 327 | 332 |
| Nitrites mgl-1 | 0-10 | 0.25 | 0.23 | 0.25 | 0.24 | 0.18 | 0.23 |
| Nitrates mgl-1 | 0-10 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Turbidity in Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) | 0-50 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
| Hydrogen Potential (pH) | 6-9 | 7.21 | 7.22 | 7.37 | 7.28 | 7.16 | 7.19 |
| Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) mgl-1 | 0-100 | 43 | 37 | 43 | 48 | 43 | 45 |
Table 2. Result of the physical-chemical analysis of the samples collected from the Pichavi river.
Evaluation of the biosensor with standard liquid samples and samples from the Pichavi river contaminated with the transition metal
Biosensor applied to standard liquid sample: Figure 3 shows the absorbance curve of the equipment, with a margin of error of 1.6% when quantifying a sample. The coefficient of determination, also known as R2, has a value of 0.9841, which is very close to 1 and through this result it is known that it is a reliable method to quantify hexavalent chromium. To know the normality of the data obtained from the different chromium concentrations submitted by the biosensor, the Shapiro-Wilk test was applied, indicating the normal distribution of the data. The result obtained in Table 3 represents the P-value in the normality of the data. In the shapiro-wilk test, with a P-value of 0.11, it was obtained that in the values of the amount of chromium absorbance at different concentrations there is a normality of distribution.
Figure 3: Absorbance of the EPOCH microplate spectrophotometer.
| Proof | P- value |
|---|---|
| shapiro-wilk (normal) | 0.11 |
Note. Data obtained by the R Studio program
Table 3. Results of the shapiro-wilk test.
Biosensor applied to river samples: To know the normality and homogeneity of the data obtained from the different samples taken from the river submitted by the biosensor, the Shapiro-Wilk and Levene test was applied, indicating the normal distribution of the data and their homogeneity.The data obtained in Table 4 represent the P-value, both for normality and homogeneity. In the Shapiro-Wilk test, with a P-value of 0.95, it was obtained that in the data of the amount of chromium absorbance there is normality.On the other hand, it is mentioned that all the data have homogeneity of variance in their distribution since the P-value=0.35 of the F is greater than the 0.05 level of significance, thus accepting the null hypothesis.
| Tests | EPOCH |
|---|---|
| Shapiro-Wilk (Normal) | 0.95 |
| Levene (Homogeneity) | 0.34 |
Note. Data obtained by the R Studio program
Table 4. Result of the shapiro-wilk and Levene test.
Comparison of the efficiency of the biosensor by the EPOCH microplate Spectrophotometer method (biosensor) vs. the UV-visible technique (colorimeter)
EPOCH microplate spectrophotometer (biosensor) vs. UV-visible technique (colorimeter) at known chromium concentrations: For the comparison of the two methods applied to know their efficiency through a quantitative measurement at known chromium concentrations, it is distributed with 2 degrees of freedom, providing the hypothesis of equality of the means. According to the results obtained, the statistical value calculated for the P-value of the t-student test is 0.02; less than the significance level of 0.05, in the concentration of 0.05 mgl−1 of hexavalent chromium, in this way the null hypothesis is rejected.
According to the results obtained, the calculated statistical value of the P-value of the t-student test is 0.00024; less than the significance level of 0.05, in the concentration of 0.1 mgl−1 of hexavalent chromium, in this way the null hypothesis is rejected. According to the results obtained, the calculated statistical value of the P-value of the t-Student test is 0.07; greater than the significance level of 0.05; in this way the null hypothesis is accepted. According to the results obtained, the calculated statistical value of the P-value of the t-student test is 0.07; greater than the significance level of 0.05; in this way the null hypothesis is accepted. According to the results obtained, the calculated statistical value of the P-value of the t-Student test is 0.002; less than the significance level of 0.05; in this way the null hypothesis is rejected. According to the results obtained, the statistical value calculated for the P-value of the t-student test is 0.02; less than the significance level of 0.05; in this way the null hypothesis is rejected. According to the statistical analysis of the t-student test applied for the quantification of hexavalent chromium by applying the EPOCH microplate spectrophotometer method (biosensor) and the UV-visible method by Colorimetry, the null hypothesis is rejected, since, the 6 different concentrations of chromium quantified, 4 of the concentrations indicate that the EPOCH microplate spectrophotometry method is different from the UV-visible method by colorimetry, accepting the alternative hypothesis.
EPOCH microplate spectrophotometer (biosensor) vs. UV-visible technique (Colorimeter) applied in the field: For the analysis of river samples, the two methods were used. EPOCH microplate spectrophotometry is different from the UV-visible method by colorimetry, applying a third method; Atomic absorption spectroscopy method suggested by for its precision, linearity of detection and quantification of metals [12].
Analysis of the physical-chemical parameters of the river
The results of the following parameters analyzed from the samples collected from the Pichavi river indicated in Table 2 (do not include metals), in accordance with the maximum permissible freshwater quality limits of Book VI Annexure 1 of the environmental quality standard and effluent discharge: water resource of the unified text of secondary legislation, environment of Ecuador (TULSMA), are within the maximum permissible limits such as conductivity and salinity, thus complying with the necessary requirements of a body of water sweet [13]. As Chaparro, et al. mentions, the determination of some physical-chemical parameters indicate the quality of water present in the environment to be analyzed, such as pH and BOD that are responsible for self-purification, causing the elimination of toxic polluting residues [14-17].
EPOCH microplate spectrophotometer (biosensor) vs. UV-visible technique (Colorimeter) applied in the field
To determine the efficiency of the methods applied to quantify chromium, the results of the different samples taken from the river were compared; for sample 2 it was obtained that the biosensor quantified 0.19 mgl−1 of chromium with a difference of 0.01 mgl−1 in relation to the analysis performed by atomic absorption. According to Álvarez, et al., the atomic absorption spectroscopy method is a validated test with reliable results when quantifying metals being the most favorable due to the curve that is calibrated from a standard that passes through a flame and is crossed by a beam of light that contains specific waves of the analyte, in this case hexavalent chromium, with precision and accuracy results, recommended for the comparison of quantified results with other methods. When comparing the colorimetric method with the atomic absorption method of the result of sample two, a difference of 0.08 mgl−1 is obtained, and with a difference of 0.07 mgl−1 with the EPOCH method (biosensor). Corroborating with the results obtained from the t-student test, where the null hypothesis is rejected in most of the chromium concentrations quantified, where the EPOCH microplate spectrophotometry method (biosensor) and the UV-visible method by Colorimetry are totally different when measuring hexavalent chromium due to the comparison between the different results obtained by the applied methods [14-18].
Bacterial biosensors are an alternative as qualitative and quantitative analytical devices for metals, due to the reaction between the bacteria and the metal producing luminescence, which indicates the presence of the toxic agent analyzed thanks to the lux operon that was inserted into the bacteria and the resistance to chromium that was given by the chr genes. The analyzes carried out with the bacterial biosensor show that it has a high specificity regarding the measurement of hexavalent chromium, in concentrations of 0.05 mgl−1 to 1.0 mgl−1 with an error of 1.6%, thus ensuring that the elaborated biosensor is effective in terms of metal quantification, accepting the hypothesis raised in the research. The efficiency of the biosensor before the quantitative analysis in comparison with the UV-visible method is more efficient, because the UV-visible method uses a field equipment, which presents a margin of error caused by the systematic factors in the processes of sampling, forcing the application of control samples, increasing residual sample.