Sensor System for Autonomous Detection of Mold Spore Contamination

Abstract

An autonomous sensor system for monitoring mold spore contaminations inside archives at desired time intervals is presented. Presence of airborne mold spores in the indoor environment not only damages organic material but it is also a potential threat to human health. To avoid this risk a sensor system for monitoring mold spore concentrations is of great importance. In this thesis, a mold sensor system with a replaceable bioreactor array for autonomous detection of the airborne spores has been investigated. The sensor system consists of a bioreactor cartridge to analyze the mold growth, an air sampling unit for distributing the mold spores into the bioreactors and a control unit to automatize the detection process. Each bioreactor is sealed with a sacrificial silicon nitride membrane, which can be opened on demand. Once activated, the membrane gets opened and the spores present in the air sample get in contact with the culture medium and start to germinate. The mold detection is performed by using an integrated approach of impedance and colorimetric principles.