Biological contaminants analysis in microalgae culture by UV–vis spectroscopy and machine learning

Eduardo Maia Paiva*, Eevi Hyttinen, Timo Dönsberg, Dorothee Barth

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

This study elucidates the utility and efficacy of UV–visible spectroscopy for the detection and characterization of biological contaminants within microalgae cultures, augmented by machine learning algorithms. Biological contamination, exemplified by flagellates and rotifers, poses a significant concern due to its potential to rapidly devastate entire cultures, thus jeopardizing commercial viability. Conventional analytical methods for monitoring contamination, such as microscopy and cytometry, are often labor-intensive, reliant on specialized expertise for microorganism identification, and may lack specificity in discerning the nature of contamination, impeding timely intervention. UV–visible spectroscopy offers a compelling solution by overcoming many of these challenges, affording specificity in analysis, real-time monitoring capabilities, and automation, owing to the intricate pigment chemistry inherent in the microalgae realm, which generates distinct UV–visible spectra. Through the measuring of contaminated and uncontaminated samples, coupled with machine learning analysis of their respective spectra, this study explores the underlying biochemical principles driving spectral data, thereby justifying the efficacy of the technique. The findings underscore the wealth of information encapsulated within UV–visible spectral data, which can be effectively harnessed through classification algorithms for early-stage identification of contamination in real-time applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number125690
JournalSpectrochimica Acta - Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy
Volume330
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Apr 2025
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

The work is part of the Research Council of Finland Flagship Programme, Photonics Research and Innovation (PREIN), decision number 368651.

Keywords

  • Biological contaminants
  • Flagellate
  • Machine learning
  • Microalgae
  • Rotifer
  • UV–visible spectroscopy

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