Technology

Lincoln Ventures Limited (LVL)

The SciTOX technology is licensed from Lincoln Ventures Ltd. Lincoln Ventures is a science and technology company owned by Lincoln University (New Zealand), engaged in research, product development and consultancy services.


Biosensors

Biosensors are chemical sensors that use biomolecules to interact with target chemicals and are composed of two essential elements: a bio-component (receptor) and a transducer (detector).

The bio-component performs the molecular recognition and may be an enzyme, antibody, nucleic acid, bacteria or even whole tissues of higher organisms. The transducer converts the signal derived from the catalytic or binding event to one that is readily displayed, for example, electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric or thermal. Compared to chemical sensors, biosensors are more specific and often more sensitive. Evolution has optimized most biomolecules to operate at ambient temperatures and in dilute aqueous media at around pH 7.

 

Application Notes

We will have application notes/presentations available here.
SciTOXTM - a low cost analyser for environmental

Webber Poster


Applications, Wastewater market

Increasing global demands for pollution abatement and cleaner public water supplies are driving the need for improved treatment of wastewater in many countries. Historically, public WWTPs relied only on some form of physical or mechanical treatment (gravitational settling/decanting of the clarified wastewater), resulting in little improvement to public watercourses. As water quality declined more advanced biological treatments, where living organisms digest and purify waste, were developed. The WWTP using these types of treatment can now be found in most countries in the world.

Biological treatments carry increased operational costs, and they are also considerably more sensitive to poisons in the water. Slight changes to waste composition can have devastating effects on the microorganisms’ performance and ability to effectively metabolise incoming wastes. Toxins in the waste stream affect not only the microorganisms treating the liquid waste, but also digesting the solids removed from the waste stream.

Reducing the efficiency of the biological treatment significantly increases the risk of exceeding regulatory limits on discharge, and raises the energy cost of treatment. Decreased efficiency also increases the time required for treatment, meaning larger waste facilities must be built.

The SciTOX technology provides a rapid and robust means of assessing the toxicity of incoming waste, and if desired, charging customers according to the toxicity or ‘loading’ characteristics of their waste.