title: Automated water analyser computer supported system (AWACSS) Part I: Project objectives, basic technology, immunoassay development, software design and networking.
abstract: A novel analytical system AWACSS (automated water analyser computer-supported system) based on immunochemical technology has been developed that can measure several organic pollutants at low nanogram per litre level in a single few-minutes analysis without any prior sample pre-concentration nor pre-treatment steps. Having in mind actual needs of water-sector managers related to the implementation of the Drinking Water Directive (DWD) (98/83/EC, 1998) and Water Framework Directive WFD (2000/60/EC, 2000), drinking, ground, surface, and waste waters were major media used for the evaluation of the system performance. The instrument was equipped with remote control and surveillance facilities. The system's software allows for the internet-based networking between the measurement and control stations, global management, trend analysis, and early-warning applications. The experience of water laboratories has been utilised at the design of the instrument's hardware and software in order to make the system rugged and user-friendly. Several market surveys were conducted during the project to assess the applicability of the final system. A web-based AWACSS database was created for automated evaluation and storage of the obtained data in a format compatible with major databases of environmental organic pollutants in Europe. This first part article gives the reader an overview of the aims and scope of the AWACSS project as well as details about basic technology, immunoassays, software, and networking developed and utilised within the research project. The second part article reports on the system performance, first real sample measurements, and an international collaborative trial (inter-laboratory tests) to compare the biosensor with conventional anayltical methods.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry (IPTC), Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tuebingen 72076, Germany. jens.tschmelak@ipc.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tschmelak
authors.forename: Guenther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Proll
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riedt
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kraemmer
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bárzaga
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: J Patrick
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hole
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nudd
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abuknesha
authors.forename: Damià
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Mozaz
authors.forename: Maria J López
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Alda
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sacher
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stien
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slobodník
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oswald
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kozmenko
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Korenková
authors.forename: Lívia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tóthová
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krascsenits
authors.forename: Guenter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gauglitz
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000295:instrumentation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D020407:Internet; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008838:Microcomputers; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D012984:Software; D012985:Software Design; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical