Detection and identification of biospores using infrared spectroscopy

ENVR 42

Chada Venkata Gopal Reddy, venkata.chada@maine.edu and Carl P. Tripp, ctripp@maine.edu. Laboratory for Surface Science & Technology, University of Maine, 5708 ESRB-Barrows, Orono, ME 04469
This work describes the use of porous membranes to capture aerosolized and water-based spores for detection by IR spectroscopy. The key aspect of this work is to render the porous membranes amenable for direct analysis by IR transmission or reflection methods. In our work we have used different varieties of membranes such as metallic (silver), anodic disc and polymer membranes. The advantages and disadvantages of the various membranes along with details of the sampling procedures and chemometric approaches to achieve high detection sensitivity and selectivity will be discussed.