T E S T I N G THE SOURCE FOR FOODTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION A new sensor that can detect the potentially deadly E.coli bacteria in 15-20 minutes - much faster than traditional lab tests – has been developed NEW BENCHMARK IN THERMAL FLOW MEASUREMENT The new benchmark in thermal flow measurement, the SA series flow sensor from ifm electronic, has been described as the best thermal flow meter to ever be developed. And with IO-Link communication capability, it’s also the easiest and quickest to parameterise on and off-site. SA sensors are optimised for a range of common WARRANTY 24 OCTOBER 2016 media found in the F7B industries, including water, oils, glycol and air. Not only will these sensors measure flow rate via 4-20mA or 0-10vDC, or provide flow switching as an output, the device offers a second independent output for the temperature monitoring of the medium, ifm says. ifm is committed to working closely with its customers to develop products which precisely match their needs, and the company provides expert, readily-accessible technical support to help users maximise the benefits they gain from ifm products. For further information, contact ifm NZ support: ph. 0800 289 436 sales.nz@ifm.com. Working in the F&B industry? We do too, that‘s why we‘ve got all the right approvals! German quality Sensors & Cables, ex. stock NZ. We look forward to working with you! www.ifm.com/nz Phone: 0800 BUY IFM (0800 289 436) years on ifm products ifm_Strip Advert_50x85March 2016 NEW PH.indd 1 29/03/16 8:55 AM FT074 by Canadian and Indian researchers in the wake of the deadly 2011 outbreak that sickened thousands in Germany and killed more than 50. A team from the University of Quebec and the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur have built the sensor that can quickly and cost-effectively detect E.coli over a wide temperature range. It currently takes several hours to days to detect the presence of bacteria, and a fast alternative is desperately needed, the team says. “Faster tests for the bacteria could lead to faster treatment of patients, as well as to cheaper and easier environmental monitoring,” Saurabh Mani Tripathi, a physicist at the Indian Institute of Technology, says. The new sensor uses bacteriophages — viruses that can naturally latch onto and kill bacteria. The viruses are bonded to the surface of an optical fiber and will grab E.coli bacteria from a sample and keep them attached. When a beam of light strikes the surface, the presence of E.coli shifts the wavelength in a telltale sign of bacterial contamination. Tripathi and his colleagues have overcome the temperature change challenge by adding an additional optical component, in effect cancelling out temperature-induced shifts. Their device is temperature insensitive over an approximately 20-degree Celsius range, starting at room temperature and going up to 40-degrees Celsius. This makes the sensor more practical for the food industry and pathology labs. “Pathogenic bacterial infection is one of the biggest causes of death, and a fast response time is much needed for timely detection and subsequent cure of bacterial infection,” Tripathi says. The research group is currently collaborating with Canadian company Security and Protection International to explore commercialisation of the device. Costs are hard to estimate at this stage of the research, but the team hopes to deliver portable units for a few thousand dollars. NEW SENSOR TO HELP IN FIGHT AGAINST E.COLI
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