Determination of the extracellular acidification of Escherichia coli K12 with a multi‐chamber‐based LAPS system

Abstract

On‐line monitoring of the metabolic activity of microorganisms involved in intermediate stages of biogas production plays an important role to avoid undesirable “down times” during the biogas production. In order to control this process, an on‐chip differential measuring system based on the light‐addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) principle combined with a 3D‐printed multi‐chamber structure has been realized. As a test microorganism, Escherichia coli K12 (E. coli K12) were used for cell‐based measurements. Multi‐chamber structures were developed to determine the metabolic activity of E. coli K12 in suspension for a different number of cells, responding to the addition of a constant or variable amount of glucose concentrations, enabling differential and simultaneous measurements.Multi‐chamber differential measurement setup based on the LAPS principle; RE, reference electrode.