Gizmorama - December 16, 2015

Good Morning,

Plastic is great, but they can come with some rather harmful toxins along for the ride. But don't worry! A new sensor developed by engineers at Massey University in New Zealand is here to help. I said not to worry.

Learn about this and more interesting stories from the scientific community in today's issue.

Until Next Time,
Erin

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*-- New sensor able to detect toxins leaching from plastic --*
PALMERSTON NORTH, New Zealand - Are toxins from that plastic food wrapper leaching into your lunch? Are carcinogens from that plastic bottle ending up the water you're drinking?

Those answers may be more easily answered thanks to engineers at Massey University in New Zealand.

Scientists Asif Zia and Subhas Mukhopadhyay have designed an electrochemical sensing system capable to detecting the presence of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, or DEHP, a synthetic compound used to enhance flexibility in plastic products.

DEHP is a human hormone disrupter; and because it doesn't attach itself covalently to the lattice structure of plastic molecules, it can be more easily leached.

The sensor boasts a molecular imprinted polymer, which acts like Velcro for DEHP molecules. When swirled through a liquid solution, the sensor can detect DEHP levels as low as two parts per billion.

After a 10-minute trip through a liquid, scientists used spectroscopy to see if the tiny sensor -- measuring 2.5 millimeters by 2.5 millimeters -- has grabbed any DEHP molecules.

"Previous technology required taking a sample to the lab, where they would first have to separate the molecule in question and then test it via flame ionization detection, mass spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography," Zia explained in a press release. "This could take up to a week. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the test procedures takes only a few minutes."

In 2011, beverages around the world that had been exported from Taiwan had to be recalled after reports of illegal DEHP use as a clouding agent surfaced. Many of the beverage shipments sat in limbo for weeks as testing took place.

DEHP has been outlawed in the United States, but many countries around the world continue to use the compound.

"Plastic is a way of life, it's hard to get around that," said Zia. "Every day we could be ingesting tiny amounts of these compounds which, over time, can build up in the body and cause problems."

"This device provides a simple and cost-effective way to make sure there aren't harmful levels of contamination in juices or other drinks," Zia added.

Zia and Mukhopadhyay detailed their new sensor in the Biosensor and Bioelectronics Journal.

The researchers are now working on a biomedical version of their sensor, which will be able to detect collagen in blood samples.


*-- Scientists unveil urine-powered wearable energy generator --*
BRISTOL, England - It may be time to shut down this whole science thing. Nothing can top the latest invention out of the University of the West of England.

Researchers there have created a pair of urine-pumping socks capable of powering a wireless transmitter. It's about time.

The socks utilize what's called microbial fuel cell technology, a process that uses bacteria to turn waste fluids into electricity. The socks are embedded with a miniaturized version of the technology. Urine is pumped across the fuel cells by the walking motion of the wearer. The fuel cells power a wireless transmitter that sends a signal to a nearby computer.

It's the first time microbial fuel cell technology has been used to build a wearable energy generator.

A new paper describing the technology was published this week in the journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics.

"Having already powered a mobile phone with MFCs using urine as fuel, we wanted to see if we could replicate this success in wearable technology," study author Ioannis Ieropoulos, a professor at the Bristol BioEnergy Centre, said in a press release. "We also wanted the system to be entirely self-sufficient, running only on human power -- using urine as fuel and the action of the foot as the pump."

MFC isn't exclusive to urine. The technology harnesses the biochemical energy used for microbial growth -- any organic waste can be used.

"This work opens up possibilities of using waste for powering portable and wearable electronics," Ieropoulos added.

"For example, recent research shows it should be possible to develop a system based on wearable MFC technology to transmit a person's coordinates in an emergency situation," Ieropoulos continued. "At the same time this would indicate proof of life since the device will only work if the operator's urine fuels the MFCs."

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