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BIO-Protect for fast-alert biodetection
European Union FP7 project. Duration: 44 months. Start date June 2010.
EC contribution: € 3.1 M (Total budget : € 3.9 M )
http://fp7-bioprotect.eu/
Introduction
The malevolent use of Anthrax spores on civilians has shown the necessity to protect citizens from criminal use of
biological agents. Detecting pathogenous bacteria, including spores, viruses and toxins has to be accomplished by
triggering short-term alarm and identification of the type of threat.
BIO-Protect, a European project comprising 7 partners, has developed a fast-alert, easy-to-use device for the
detection and identification of airborne bacteria, spores, viruses and toxins. Its technology is based on bio-aerosol
detection by laser-induced fluorescence and elastic scattering followed by particle collection from air, pyrolysis of
the sample and analysis by Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry (GC-IMS), which enables the
identification of harmful biological agents.
This device will provide security personnel with a reliable tool to take fast, effective countermeasures when
confronted with biological threats and will reduce the potential impact of terrorist attacks or accidental releases of
bio-agents from laboratories.
Basic prototype characteristics
Size (H x W x D): 79 x 61 x 44 cm (with inlets installed)
Weight: 42 kg
Battery pack weight (including AC power): 12 kg
Data Interfaces: WLAN + USB + Ethernet
Sampling method: The biodetector samples by continuously pumping a stream of ambient air through a
pre-filter and virtual impactor
The particle collector samples by electrostatic precipitation
Air flow rate:
Biodetector sampling 2 lpm
Particle collector sampling ca. 100 lpm
Estimated battery operating time: 5 hours at +20 °C
Target response time (detection and identification of agent): less than 15 min
About the technology
Main Hardware
Bio-Protect was designed based on existing technologies and pre-defined specifications. An end-users group was
involved in the process by providing requirements that were taken into account as much as possible during the
design and integration work.
The device is composed of four main sub-assembly units that have been redesigned, modified or miniaturised:
 Bio-aerosol detector: The BioScout bio-aerosol detector developed and used in other detection devices by
Environics, was modified for better integration suitability and mobile use. It continuously monitors the ambient air
and triggers a measurement if biological particles are detected. The device detects particles ranging from 0.5-10
micrometres.
 Particle collector: A single stage electrostatic sampler was developed by CEA Leti for an efficient collection of
microorganisms at 100 l/min. The corona discharge between coaxial cylinders changes airborne particles into
electrically charged particles that can be collected by electrical forces as they pass through the sampler. The
current sampler design features a high flow rate that enables the device to be used as an alarm trigger in a short
period of time.
 Pre-treatment unit: A combined pre-concentration and pyrolysis unit for sample pre-treatment was developed by
C-Tech Innovation. A small amount of the collected aqueous sample is transferred to the unit’s pyrolysis tube,
which contains a special support medium. The sample is first heated at low temperature to dry the sample and a
special valve unit prevents any water vapour entering the detector. After all of the water is removed, the sample
residue is then pyrolysed quickly at high temperature to release characteristic volatile organic materials from the
sample into the air-stream. To prevent the condensation and loss of any volatile materials, the valve unit
then directs the air-stream through heated transfer lines before it enters the IMS detector.
 GC-IMS: A miniaturised and modified GC-IMS, developed by Environics-IUT, for pyrolysis gas analysis separates
and identifies very small amounts of a wide range of molecules. It has been adapted to sense organic
compounds that have been decomposed by means of pyrolysis. The selected GC-column has been conditioned
for this special application. The coupling of a GC column with an IMS system enhances the selectivity of a bare
IMS system and extends the two dimension information of IMS to a three dimension information of a GC-IMS.
Main Software
Pattern analysis software has been developed for the interpretation of acquired spectra, identifying bio-agents and distinguishing them from other biological materials. A database of several model-agents including bacteria, spores,
toxins and viruses has thus been generated. Constant extension and upgrading of the database is planned, leading to the delivery of a marketable version with an extended scope.
Users control and monitor the device through an easy, dedicated user interface. Two versions have been developed, for basic users and for advanced users. During the analysis, users can follow the different steps of the process,
receive alarms, see results and acquired spectra, and access past analysis data.
How does it work?
Bio-Scout continuously
measures the ambient air by
laser-induced fluorescence and
scattering to detect potentially
harmful biological agents. If
biological particles are detected,
it triggers the analysis process.
.
The particle collector
begins to collect particles
from the air onto its
cylinder walls and stops
when the pre-defined
collection time has
elapsed.
Particles are flushed from
the collector’s cylinder
walls with aqueous
flushing solution. A
sample is then transferred
to the pre-treatment unit
through the sample
transfer line.
A small amount of the
aqueous sample is first
dried in the pre-treatment
unit’s pyrolysis tube and
then pyrolysed quickly at
high temperature.
Gases released from the
pyrolysis process are
transferred to the GC-IMS
unit for analysis.
Upon gas analysis, an
indication of the result is
displayed on the user
interface.
RESULT
Detection
& identification of
bio-agent
Next steps
Further tests are planned to continue to improve the prototype device with regards to technology and the interface for users. Exploitation and marketing studies are being undertaken by partners in the project with a view to
commercialise the device.
7 partners in 5 countries
The research leading to these results is partly funded by the
European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme
FP7/2007-2013 under grant agreement No. 242306
Contact:
Vincent Chauvet - LGI Consulting 13 Rue de Marivaux, Paris FRANCE  email : [email protected]  tel: +33 (0) 1 84 16 30 73