wastewater contaminants. The detection of pollutants is important for the design
and scale of the treatment process. Thus, biosensors provide a robust alternative for
identification and measurement of the pollutants with the least requirement of
sample pre-treatment and frequent data sampling [75].
5.1 Biosensors for Organic Contaminants
Water pollution mainly caused by water release from domestic, industrial, and
agricultural activities. Water pollution leads to the degradation of aquatic habitat
and decline in the aquatic population [76]. Among all major water pollutant like
organic materials, inorganic material and microbial contaminants, microbial contaminants majorly affect water quality and lead to many dreadful waterborne diseases [77, 78].
A wide range of organic contaminants are found in the wastewater are aromatic
hydrocarbons, food and households related compound, organic solvents, herbicides,
pesticides, fertilizers, preservatives, washing and cleaning agents. The information
regarding the composition of wastewater is essential for designing of the wastewater treatment system. The variation in the presence of pollutants in different areas
leads to the discovery of new technologies for the treatment of wastewater [79].
Many techniques are used to measure physical, chemical and biological characteristics of wastewater but the problem associated with these techniques is that
they are costly and time-consuming [80, 81]. Due to these problems, researchers are
focussing for developing new technologies that are more efficient in determining
and treatment of different kinds of pollutants present in wastewater [82, 83].
Among these new technologies biosensors have given a great success in
determining very less amount of contaminants present in wastewater in any forms
like organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants, microbial pollutants and heavy metals,
electrochemical, optical and piezoelectric and thermal biosensors are used for these
purposes [84]. The application of biosensors is increasing due to several advantages
associated with it like low cost, small size, quick and easy use, as well as a
sensitivity and selectivity greater than the current instruments.
Domestic wastewater discharge, hospitals and clinics effluent discharge, agriculture effluents discharge industrial wastewater discharge are the major sources of
organic pollutants in wastewater. These organic contaminants present in wastewater
have a very harmful effect on humans and the environment.
Domestic discharge water and industrial effluents contain organic contaminants
in the form of surfactants and their by-products include (e.g. alkylphenol
polyethoxylates, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, hydrocarbons, aromatic substances and chlorine compounds. Among these organic contaminants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are mainly present in industrial waste effluents
[85].
Materials in Bio-Sensing of Water Pollutants
201
and scale of the treatment process. Thus, biosensors provide a robust alternative for
identification and measurement of the pollutants with the least requirement of
sample pre-treatment and frequent data sampling [75].
5.1 Biosensors for Organic Contaminants
Water pollution mainly caused by water release from domestic, industrial, and
agricultural activities. Water pollution leads to the degradation of aquatic habitat
and decline in the aquatic population [76]. Among all major water pollutant like
organic materials, inorganic material and microbial contaminants, microbial contaminants majorly affect water quality and lead to many dreadful waterborne diseases [77, 78].
A wide range of organic contaminants are found in the wastewater are aromatic
hydrocarbons, food and households related compound, organic solvents, herbicides,
pesticides, fertilizers, preservatives, washing and cleaning agents. The information
regarding the composition of wastewater is essential for designing of the wastewater treatment system. The variation in the presence of pollutants in different areas
leads to the discovery of new technologies for the treatment of wastewater [79].
Many techniques are used to measure physical, chemical and biological characteristics of wastewater but the problem associated with these techniques is that
they are costly and time-consuming [80, 81]. Due to these problems, researchers are
focussing for developing new technologies that are more efficient in determining
and treatment of different kinds of pollutants present in wastewater [82, 83].
Among these new technologies biosensors have given a great success in
determining very less amount of contaminants present in wastewater in any forms
like organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants, microbial pollutants and heavy metals,
electrochemical, optical and piezoelectric and thermal biosensors are used for these
purposes [84]. The application of biosensors is increasing due to several advantages
associated with it like low cost, small size, quick and easy use, as well as a
sensitivity and selectivity greater than the current instruments.
Domestic wastewater discharge, hospitals and clinics effluent discharge, agriculture effluents discharge industrial wastewater discharge are the major sources of
organic pollutants in wastewater. These organic contaminants present in wastewater
have a very harmful effect on humans and the environment.
Domestic discharge water and industrial effluents contain organic contaminants
in the form of surfactants and their by-products include (e.g. alkylphenol
polyethoxylates, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, hydrocarbons, aromatic substances and chlorine compounds. Among these organic contaminants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are mainly present in industrial waste effluents
[85].
Materials in Bio-Sensing of Water Pollutants
201