With the development of technologies Zinc pollution caused by industrial emissions from zinc mining, smelting, and processing、machinery manufacturing、zincplating、instrumentation、 organic synthesis, and paper making is becoming more and more serious.

Since zinc pollution has such a serious impact on the environment, our group wanted to build a machine that could detect zinc contamination quickly. In addition, this machine will be affordable for everyone. This sensor mainly uses microorganisms to detect zinc contamination.

With our ardor and understanding of synthetic biology, we aim to construct a zinc sensor and spark the inspiration for zinc pollution solving.

Being placed into effluents rich in zinc ions, the zinc-sensitive promoter PzntR is activated and triggers substantial expression of riboflavin, a biological molecule that is chemically reactive and accelerates the transport of electrons from intercellular space to extracellular regions, through porins in E.coli in the anode.

The zinc sensor employs the basic principles of galvanic cell. Both the electrodes from the zinc sensor are carbon fiber felt electrodes with E.coli attached to the anode exclusively.

The potassium iron cyanide receives electrons in the cathode. The ammeter in the external circuit of electrons measures the magnitude of current due to electrical potential.

The amount of riboflavin expressed is based on the concentration of zinc ions in the effluent, which in turn has a positive correlation with the reading on the ammeter.

With our zinc sensor, the pollution of zinc ions from industrial effluents or natural water bodies can be easily detected;

Thus, further actions regarding various remediation methods such as phytoremediation and microbial remediation are ensured.