Abstract:
Continuous monitoring of fluid composition, e.g. drinking water supply, with improved detection sensitivity and selectivity to varying degrees of contamination at and below the predetermined maximum contaminant levels using pyrolysis-differential mobility spectrometry.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of and priority to provisional application Ser. Nos. 60/678,080 and 60/695,291 filed on May 5, 2005 and Jun. 30, 2005, respectively. This application is also a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 10/817,455 filed on Apr. 1, 2004, which claims the benefit of and priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/459,424 filed on Apr. 1, 2003. The entire contents of all of these applications are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to analytical methods in the field of fluid quality management and, more specifically, to methods for continuous monitoring of drinking water quality and detection of contaminants therein using differential mobility spectrometry.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Water processing dates back to ancient civilizations, where purification methods such as charcoal filtering, sunlight exposure, boiling, and straining were applied for purposes of improving taste and clarity of water. The 1800s saw the rise of water facilities capable of providing water to entire towns. Simultaneously, scientists and epidemiologists elucidated how microscopic organisms could transmit disease through water, and, as a result, most drinking water treatment systems employed a number of filters, e.g. containing sand and/or charcoal, to reduce turbidity and bacteria population. The early 1900s marked the birth of modern treatment facilities which utilized chlorine and ozone disinfectants for increased ability to eradicate pathogens. Although technological improvements and increased federal regulations reduced the prevalence of pathogens, it became evident in the 1960s that industrial and agricultural chemicals posed additional public health concerns. Water treatment facilities implemented new purification techniques to address these contaminants.  
         [0004]     Despite modern advances in waterborne disease prevention, severe outbreaks still occur in the U.S. and other developed nations of the world. The 1993 outbreak of  Cryptosporidium  in Milwaukee, Wis., the largest documented waterborne disease outbreak, demonstrated to public health officials that not all waterborne pathogens could be eliminated using established disinfection techniques. Similar outbreaks of  E. coli  in Canada and cases of  Cryptosporidium  outbreaks in the U.K. and Europe point to a serious concern for public health. Furthermore, waterborne pathogens resistant to current purification methods continue to emerge.  
         [0005]     To improve uniformity of water treatment facilities across the nation, the U.S. Congress enacted the Safe Water Drinking Act (SWDA) in 1974 to set standards for monitoring and treatment techniques and maximum contamination levels. An essential part of the SWDA and its amendments in 1986 and 1996 was to establish routine monitoring of the nation&#39;s water supply to guarantee that chemical toxins and pathogens are maintained at levels that minimize health risk. Currently, quantitative analysis of chemical and biological pollutants is performed with analytical methods such as gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). See, for example, “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,” by American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environment Federation (20th ed. Washington, D.C., 1998), incorporated herein by reference. Tables 1A-1D below shows the quantity of contaminants under regulation and their categorization by the Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, summaries of the testing frequency, the cost per analysis, and the analytical method are provided.  
                                         TABLE 1A                                   EPA Contaminant Category   Total Tests in Category                                        Microorganisms   4           Disinfection Byproducts   11           Disinfectants   3           Inorganic Chemicals   16           Organic Chemicals   53                      
 
         [0006]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1B 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Required Testing Frequency 
                 Analytes Tested 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Bi-annually 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Quarterly 
                 65 
               
               
                   
                 Monthly 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Daily 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Continuously 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Depends on Source 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 Information Unavailable 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0007]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1C 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Analytes Tested 
               
               
                   
                 Costs per Analysis 
                 (%) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 $200-$400 
                 65 
               
               
                   
                  $50-$200 
                 6 
               
               
                   
                 Under $50 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0008]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1D 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Analytes 
               
               
                   
                 Tested 
               
               
                 Analytical Method 
                 (%) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Gas Chromatography w/Mass Spectrometry 
                 42 
               
               
                 Gas Chromatography w/Electron Capture Detection 
                 24 
               
               
                 Gas Chromatography w/Photoionization Detection 
                 24 
               
               
                 Inductively Coupled Plasma w/Mass Spectrometry 
                 11 
               
               
                 Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption 
                 10 
               
               
                 Colorimetry 
                 6 
               
               
                 Inductively Coupled Plasma w/Atomic Emission 
                 6 
               
               
                 Spectrometry 
               
               
                 High Performance Liquid Chromatography with 
                 5 
               
               
                 Ultraviolet Detection 
               
               
                 DPD Ferrous Titrimetric 
                 3 
               
               
                 Gas Chromatography w/Nitrogen-Phosphorus Detection 
                 3 
               
               
                 High Performance Chromatography w/Post-Column 
                 3 
               
               
                 Derivitization and Fluorescence Detection 
               
               
                 Ion Chromatography 
                 3 
               
               
                 Iodometric Electrode 
                 3 
               
               
                 Gas Chromatography with Electrolytic Conductivity 
                 2 
               
               
                 Detection 
               
               
                 Ion Chromatography w/Conductivity Detector 
                 2 
               
               
                 Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption 
                 1 
               
               
                 Enzyme Substrate Test 
                 1 
               
               
                 Gas Chromatography w/Flame Ionization Detection 
                 1 
               
               
                 High Performance Liquid Chromatography w/UV 
                 1 
               
               
                 Absorption &amp; Fluorescence Detectors 
               
               
                 Liquid/Solid Extraction (LSE) 
                 1 
               
               
                 Membrane Filtration 
                 1 
               
               
                 Multiple-tube Fermentation Technique 
                 1 
               
               
                 Transmission Electron Microscopy 
                 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0009]     Analytical laboratories provide many testing services using various technologies. For example, one laboratory in the Greater Boston area offers the following tests: (Bold italics indicate tests specifically for drinking water):  
                                                                               Trace Metals   Inductively Coupled           Plasma Spectrophotometers                                 Cold Vapor Atomic           Absorption Spectrophoto-           meter (mercury analysis           only       Wet Chemistry Analysis - Oxygen demand,   Bench chemistry       organic carbon, acidity, alkalinity,   tests       bromide, CO 2 , chloride,                     cyanide, iron, fluoride, formaldehyde,                     hexavalent chromium, hydrazine, nitrogen,       orthophosphate, oxidizers, peroxide,       phenol, phosphorus, sulfate, sulfide,       fulfite, tannin &amp; lignin, organic matter,       hydrocarbons, chlorine, anions, etc.                                       Volatile organics - aromatics,   GC/MS       halocarbons, all w/various EPA   GC w/various other       methods listed Extractable organics -   detectors                                       other things not specifically for       drinking water       Petroleum Hydrocarbons   GC                                       Dissolved gasses - ethane, ethane,   GC-MS       methane                  
 
         [0010]     Known microbiological and other analytical processes are typically both time- and labor-consuming, often requiring sensitive detectors and highly trained personnel. As a result, as shown above, tests are typically performed periodically with the majority of contaminants being tested on a quarterly basis. Furthermore, many conventional methods look for a particular contaminant instead of providing a trigger that indicates that something has changed in the water composition.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, despite improvements in analytical techniques over the past several decades, a monitoring system that is robust, low-cost, automated, and able to either detect a change in water composition or identify a wide variety of low concentration analytes in real-time is still desirable. In that regard, particularly desirable are inexpensive and highly sensitive first alert systems that continuously monitor the water supply and generate an alarm to warn of a possible water quality problem.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     As discussed above, conventional drinking water systems are deficient with respect to real-time monitoring, and there is a need for a sensor capable of automated detection of trace levels of chemical and microbial contaminants. A sensor that is small, inexpensive, fast, and analyte-independent could enable real-time remote monitoring and provide additional security to the water infrastructure. The regulatory requirements for allowable contaminant levels are demanding and represent a significant challenge to any system.  
         [0013]     Accordingly, the present invention addresses the above concerns and contemplates detecting various substances present in water supply utilizing methods of differential mobility spectrometry and, more specifically, microDMx™ sensor chip technology originally developed by The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory (Cambridge, Mass.) (“Draper Laboratory”) and presently available from Sionex Corporation (Waltham, Mass.) (“Sionex”).  
         [0014]     Various embodiments of the present invention enable continuous monitoring of fluid composition, e.g. drinking water supply, with improved detection sensitivity and selectivity to varying degrees of contamination at and below the predetermined maximum contaminant levels, e.g. those stipulated by the EPA. As discussed below, the microDMx™ differential mobility spectrometry demonstrates satisfactory sensitivity for continuous water monitoring when used to analyze both pristine and contaminated water samples. Specifically, using first order statistical methods and principal component analysis, it was demonstrated that the microDMx system, with sensitivity in the ppb to ppt range, is capable of distinguishing between pristine water from different sources. Its sensitivity to contaminants in water has also been evaluated. Water samples spiked with standard drinking water contaminants were analyzed, and unique spectral patterns were found. Furthermore, differential mobility spectrometry showed high degree of sensitivity to varying degrees of contamination. Thus, in certain embodiments, when coupled with sophisticated bioinformatics capabilities, the present invention enables continuous water monitoring in an integrated water quality and biological detection system.  
         [0015]     As discussed in more detail below, differential mobility spectrometry was shown to be sensitive to small changes in water and capable of detecting trace amounts of standard contaminants, exceeding even the strictest governmental regulations. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the microDMx system is concordantly responsive to contaminant concentrations, which allows the development of signal thresholds for more effective detection.  
         [0016]     In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for monitoring of fluid—e.g. drinking water—composition using a field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a first fluid sample, (b) generating a first time-averaged ion abundance profile corresponding to the composition of the first fluid sample, (c) providing a second fluid sample, (d) generating a second time-averaged ion abundance profile corresponding to the composition of the second fluid sample; and then (e) detecting a change in the fluid composition by comparing the second profile to the first profile. The field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer may include an ionization source for ionizing the fluid sample and creating ions, a housing defining an analytical gap; an ion filter disposed in the analytical gap downstream from the ionization source, and including electrodes on an inside surface of the housing for creating an asymmetric electric field to filter the ions; an ion flow generator including electrodes proximate but insulated with respect to the ion fitter electrodes for creating an electric field transverse to the asymmetric electric field for propelling ions through the asymmetric electric field; and an ion detector for sensing ions not filtered by the ion fitter.  
         [0017]     In some embodiments, steps (c), (d), and (e) are performed in sequence substantially immediately following step (b). In other embodiments, steps (c), (d), and (e) are performed in sequence at a time interval, e.g. no more than 1 day, 1 hour, or 1 minute, following step (b). 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The invention, in accordance with preferred and exemplary embodiments, together with further advantages thereof, is more particularly described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1A-1F  and  2 A- 2 D depict characteristic time-averaged ion abundance profiles for each of tested water samples;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 3A-3D  depict score plots of the first three principal components for water samples of  FIGS. 2A-2D ;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 4A-4F  depict box plots of statistically separated points between compared water types of  FIGS. 2A-2D ;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 5A-5D  depict average differential mobility spectrometry contour plots of four different samples of contaminated water; and  
         [0023]      FIGS. 6A-6B  show concentration response curves. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     As mentioned above, chemical and biological contaminants in the water supply pose serious public health risks, and government efforts have gone a long way to mitigate these risks. However, the cost and time associated with conventional testing methods prevents water monitoring from occurring on the continual basis necessary for the desired level of security. As discussed in more detail below, microDMx technology can detect the presence of chemicals in water at levels below the U.S. regulatory limit. As shown below, detection with pyrolysis-differential mobility spectrometry is sensitive enough to distinguish pristine water differing only by its origin. Pyrolysis provides the thermal energy for chemical fragmentation and volatilization of water and any chemicals contained therein. Generation of chemical fingerprints, series of data points that have the same relative ratio to each other, relies on the ability to separate ionized samples based on variations in ion mobility.  
         [0025]     MicroDMx™ sensor chip technology, as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,495,823 and 6,512,224 incorporated herein by reference, stems from the realization that an extremely small, accurate and fast Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility filter and detection systems can be implemented using MEMS and microfabrication technology to define a flow path between a sample inlet and an outlet using a pair of spaced substrates and disposing an ion filter within the flow path. The filter includes a pair of spaced electrodes, with one electrode associated with each substrate, and a controller for selectively applying a bias voltage and an asymmetric periodic voltage across the electrodes to control the path of ions through the filter. In its various aspects, this technology separates and detects ionized compounds based on their differential mobilities through the sensor chip described above. Ionized compounds have mobilities which are a function of their charge, mass and cross-sectional area. By applying an RF and DC field to the sensor chip it can act as a filter selecting a chosen ion or collection of ions. The applied DC and RF fields can be used as parameters to identify the ions together with additional information, such as field dependence. This device is small, inexpensive, highly sensitive to the parts-per-trillion range and is capable of detecting a variety of chemicals and biological materials.  
         [0026]     In various embodiments of the invention, continuous monitoring of the water composition using a field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer involves generating time-averaged ion abundance profiles corresponding to the composition of the periodically supplied water samples. A change in the water composition is detected by comparing the profile of the current sample to the profile of the preceding sample. The samples can be tested either at time intervals, e.g. daily, hourly, or every minute, or continuously.  
         [0027]     A variety of experimental techniques discussed below were used to study detection capability and sensitivity of microDMx technology for water monitoring.  
         [0000]     A. Instrumentation  
         [0028]     The differential mobility spectrometer used for chemical and biological detection was a microDMx™ SDP-1 unit obtained from Sionex. As a result of miniaturization via microfabrication methods, the sensor has enhanced sensitivity and detection resolution to the parts-per-trillion range. As discussed above, differential mobility spectrometry functions by ionizing particles and filtering them according to their mobility in high-amplitude radio frequency fields. An ion&#39;s mobility is dependent on its charge, mass, and volume, as well as the applied electric field. Gaseous sample entering the sensor is ionized by a radioactive nickel, 63Ni, source. For filtering, the applied electric field consists of two components—an asymmetric waveform electric field which alternates between high- and low-strength fields, and a low-strength DC compensation voltage. The asymmetric field amplitude is held constant while the DC compensation voltage is adjusted permitting only particular ion species to pass through the filter and collide with a Faraday detector. Uncompensated ions fail to reach the end of the filter and are scattered towards the ion filter electrodes, neutralized, and carried out of the system via carrier gas. By noting fitter field conditions and detection current amplitude, ion species can be determined. To allow simultaneous detection of diverse ion species deriving from the same sample, the differential mobility spectrometer can be programmed to sweep through a range of compensation voltages over an established duration.  
         [0000]     B. Experimental Setup  
         [0029]     Headspace, i.e. equilibrated air, collected by an automated sampler above heated water samples at (60° C. and 65° C.) was sent through a gas chromatograph megabore guard column and into the DMx unit, programmed to sweep through a range of compensation voltages from −40 volts (V) to 10 V. Specifically, the Pyroprobe 1000 pyrolyzer available from CDS Analytical, Inc. (Oxford, Pa.) was connected to the inlet port of an HP 5890 gas chromatograph (“GC”) with inlet and detector port temperatures of 150° C. and oven temperature of 200° C. The pyrolyzer interface temperature was 110° C. Each 4 μL sample was pyrolyzed at 700° C. for 20 seconds with ramping rate of 0.01° C./msec and carried by a 10 ml/min nitrogen (N 2 ) gas flow. Once pyrolyzed, the sample was carried through a 0.5 m guard column with an additional 30 ml/min N2 gas flow. Upon exiting the GC oven, the N 2 /sample flow was combined with a 300 ml/min N 2  flow at the detector port of the GC before entering the sensor. The microDMx sensor was programmed to sweep through a range of compensation voltages from −40 volts (V) to 10 V. The RF field was set to 1200 V. Detection by the microDMx sensor produced a three-dimensional spectrum. The two independent axes are compensation voltage and scan. One scan is approximately 1.6 seconds. The dependent axis is an arbitrary unit representative of the detected ion abundance at a specific compensation voltage and time.  
         [0000]     C. Data Analysis  
         [0030]     Data was prepared by setting the beginning of each file to the start of pyrolysis and the duration to 60 scans. To adjust for any slight variations in the Vc dimension due to temperature and moisture, all files were aligned along the compensation voltage dimension according to methods developed for this differential mobility spectrometry data.  
         [0031]     Principal components analysis (PCA) was performed to determine whether the different water types could be distinguished from one another. This was accomplished by tailoring standard PCA analysis techniques for use with this data in MATLAB® software (Natick, Mass.). The data was first formatted by appending subsequent columns in the data matrix to the previous column creating a single vector that maintained all information. Several components are usually required to describe the variance in the data. For standardized comparison, plots of the first three PCs were produced. Resulting patterns are presented for comparisons between Draper tap water and each of the other three water types. For first order statistical analysis, ANNOVA functions in MATLAB were used to calculate statistics between points.  
       Sensitivity Experiments  
       [0032]     Several different water types were collected to provide analysis of the system&#39;s sensitivity: 
        (1) Draper Laboratory tap water,     (2) Cambridge, Mass. municipal tap water;     (3) Quincy, Mass. municipal tap water;     (4) Draper Laboratory lab-grade water deionized by an 18 mega ohm reverse osmosis process;     (5) Harvard Center for Blood Research deionized water; and     (6) Monadnock® distilled water.        
 
         [0039]     A characteristic time-averaged ion abundance profile was created for each sample, and the profiles from repeat runs were then averaged as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1E , with signal amplitude on the y-axis and compensation voltage on the x-axis.  FIG. 1A  shows test results for three sample vials with air only, as a control measurement. Each sample was analyzed 3 times. There is visible reproducibility between samples performed on the same sample vial, and each sample vial had unique spectral patterns associated with it.  FIG. 1B  shows test results for three local sources of water: tap water of Cambride, Mass.; Draper Laboratory tap water, and tap water of Quincy, Mass. As shown in  FIG. 1B , each water source has some similar features unique to water itself. However, there are some spectral features that are unique to the water source, representing impurities in the water.  
         [0040]      FIG. 1C  shows test results for three types of distilled or dionized (DI) water: Draper Laboratory DI water, Harvard Center for Blood Research DI water, and Monadnock distilled water. Spectral features appear distinct for each sample type.  FIG. 1D  shows water sample differences from three common manufacturers of bottled water.  FIG. 1E  shows spectral complexity can be introduced by adding contaminants to the water samples, as discussed below.  
         [0041]     Thus, several features common to all water sources were detected with several features being consistently stronger in one kind of water than in another kind of water, and several features being present in one kind of water and not in another kind of water. These results indicate that the presence, although not the identity, of different impurities in water can be detected. Thus, this technology provides an advantage over conventional methods by being able to: 
    detect many sorts of contamination/impurities simultaneously (without having to do multiple tests);     provide immediate, in-line trigger feedback of whether water composition has changed with a negligible investment of time, labor, and resources; and     detect different changes than resistance methods and also be able to be then coupled to a contaminant identification method, such as mass spectrometry.    
 
       Detection Experiments  
       [0045]     Four different water types, all of which conformed to specifications for the production of safe drinking water were collected to provide baseline analysis of the system&#39;s sensitivity to water: 
        (1) Draper Laboratory tap water, used as a representative sample of Cambridge, Mass. municipal water;     (2) Belmont Springs® bottled drinking water (DS Waters of America, LP, Atlanta, Ga.),     (3) Purified laboratory-grade water (Millipore Corporation, Billerica, Mass.),     (4) Draper Laboratory lab-grade water deionized by an 18 mega ohm reverse osmosis process.        
 
         [0050]     Chemicals from three EPA contaminant classes were selected based on their EPA-established maximum contaminant level (MCL) and availability. Where availability was analogous, chemicals with higher MCLs were chosen on the presumption that larger concentrations would yield superior detection results. 99.7% analytical grade toluene (J.T. Baker, Phillipsburg, N.J.) and ammonium nitrate (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) were used as the representative organic and inorganic contaminants respectively. EPA regulation for microbiological contaminants is based on total coliform detection.  E. coli  DH5 (ATCC 53868) (American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va.) was used as a representative coliform and enteric pathogen.  
         [0051]     Each contaminant was dissolved in deionized water, and serial dilutions were performed to produce five concentrations: the MCL and one and two orders of magnitude above and below the MCL for that contaminant. Five toluene concentrations were tested that varied by a magnitude of order and ranged from 0.01 to 100 ppm. Similarly, ammonium nitrate concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 1,000 ppm. For  E. coli , the optical densities of the solutions were measured at 600 nm. Using a concentration curve created for the  E. coli , the number of cells per 4□l experiment was calculated: A=340,000 cells, B=34,000 cells, C=3,400 cells, D=340 cells, and E=34 cells.  
         [0052]     Twenty-five pyrolysis-differential mobility spectrometry detection experiments were performed for each of four water samples mentioned above: (a) Belmont Springs distilled water (b) deionized water from Draper Laboratory (c) Draper Laboratory tap water (d) Millipore filtered water. A characteristic time-averaged ion abundance profile was created for each sample, and the profiles from repeat runs were then averaged as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2D , with signal amplitude on the y-axis and compensation voltage on the x-axis. All samples are 4 μL of water pyrolyzed at 700° C. for 20 seconds.  
         [0053]     Standard deviation above and below this average are also shown with dashed lines. Multiple high amplitude peaks are evident in each water type, and smaller peaks are also visible throughout. However, with the degree of variability in each plot, it is often difficult to differentiate between water types based on these peaks alone. Accordingly, in many embodiments of the invention, principal component analysis (PCA) is employed to obtain a more robust model for distinguishing between water types.  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3C , binary comparison using PCA shows successful separation of Draper tap water from the other three water types. These plots show the data plotted against the top three principle components for 
        x=Draper tap water, o=Belmont Springs water ( FIG. 3A );     x=Draper tap water, o=deionized water ( FIG. 3B ); and     x=Draper tap water, o=Millipore filtered water ( FIG. 3C ).        
 
         [0058]     The data from different water types clusters in a different pattern, indicating there are observable differences. The data set for each water type was randomly divided in half, and one half was used for algorithms training and the other half for testing. With the testing set, in the comparison of Draper tap water to three other water types PCA correctly identified 58.3% as Draper tap and 66.7% as deionized, 75% as Draper tap and 50% as Millipore filtered, and 66.7% as Draper tap and 33.3% as Belmont Springs, based on the calculation of the discriminants.  
         [0059]     Additionally, first order statistics enable the identification of specific points in the data that distinguish between water types with a high degree of statistical significance. ANNOVA function of MATHLAB software was performed on each point in the data sets, and those that were statistically different based on a p-value less than 0.001 were identified. Visual representations of this separability are shown in  FIGS. 4A-4F  depicting box plots of statistically separated points between compared water types. Each figure shows a standard notched box plot with median value at the center line and upper and lower quartiles making up the outer lines of the box. Although a number of the plots show overlapping ranges, the notches do not overlap and there is a statistically significant &lt;0.05 confidence that the median ion abundances at these points are different. In the figures, range was limited to 1.5 x interquartile range (IQR). Outliers, (o), fall outside of this range. 
    (a) Draper tap water and Millipore filtered water at scan 38 and −19.92 V, p-value=6.354×10 −4  ( FIG. 4A );     (b) Draper Laboratory tap water and deionized water at scan 37 and 2.57 V, p-value=8.243×10 −5  ( FIG. 4B );     (c) Deionized water and Millipore filtered water at scan 25 and −29.16 V, p-value=1.481×10 −4  ( FIG. 4C );     (d) Belmont Springs water and deionized water at scan 18 and −23.73 V, p-value=1.981×10 −4  ( FIG. 4D );     (e) Belmont Springs water and Millipore filtered water at scan 24 and −22.13 V, p-value=8.133×10 −4  ( FIG. 4E ); and     (f) Draper Laboratory tap water and Belmont Springs water at scan 25 and −34.98 V, p-value=2.904×10 −4  ( FIG. 4F )    
 
         [0066]     Thus, for each binary comparison between water types, a single statistically significant spectral location capable of distinguishing between the two types with 99% confidence was identified, based on the box plot technique depicted in  FIGS. 4A-4F . This analytical method produced more than one such point of statistical separation, and thus provides evidence that each water type likely has multiple unique points making up a characteristic fingerprint that distinguishes it from other water types.  
         [0067]     In order to detect contaminants in water at the required EPA level, a high degree of sensitivity to even slight changes in water is necessary. Unlike established chemical techniques for contamination detection, detection by the microDMx system does not make use of analyte-specific concentrating steps before analysis, which is an advantage for fast, real-time analysis. A demonstrated ability to detect differences in closely related sources of water establishes the capacity of the sensor to operate with the required degree of sensitivity. Accordingly, contaminated water samples were examined to establish if there was sensitivity to low concentration additions of standard contaminants. Each of the tested samples demonstrated a highly responsive signal with visibly apparent changes.  
         [0068]      FIGS. 5A-5D  depict average differential mobility spectrometry contour plots of contaminated water when using microDMx system with spectral signals averaged across five samples, with scan number on the x-axis, compensation voltage on the y-axis, and with abundance on the z-axis (contours). In this figures, 
         FIG. 5A  represents deionized water control sample;      FIG. 5B  represents 340  E. coli  cells in deionized water;      FIG. 5C  represents 1 ppm ammonium nitrate in deionized water; and      FIG. 5D  represents 0.1 ppm toluene in deionized water.          
         [0073]     Each concentration is ten times lower than the U.S. EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL). Components of the deionized water background are evident in each of the three signals with contaminant. Additional features can be identified in the contour plots of the contaminated waters, and the contour maps all have slightly different features from each other. Notably, the sample with  E. coli  appears to have a more complex signal than the others, likely due to the many different chemical components that make up the bacterial cells. Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D , contaminated water produces visibly apparent changes in the spectra even at concentrations ten-fold below the EPA regulatory limit.  
         [0074]     As mentioned above, five concentrations of each contaminant were studied: Toluene ranging from 0.01 to 100 ppm, ammonium nitrate ranging from 0.1 to 1,000 ppm, and  E. coli  ranging in concentration from 340,000 cells to 34 cells. In each range, the middle concentration represents the maximum contaminant concentration allowable for safe drinking water under U.S. governmental regulations.  FIGS. 6A-6B  show plots of total ion abundance at a specific constant compensation voltage versus contaminant concentration; each point represents an average of five experiments and the standard error is shown by the error bars.  FIG. 6A  depicts total ion abundance for a signal amplitude at −2 V and toluene concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 100 ppm.  FIG. 6B  depicts total ion abundance for a signal amplitude at −16 V and ammonium nitrate concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1000 ppm. A linear estimate of the trend that takes into account the average and standard error values is also shown. This shows that detection is sensitive at particular points in the data, and it is also variable with the level of contamination. The general trend is increasing ion abundance with increasing concentration.  
         [0075]     As the above experiments demonstrate, using the average signal profile over time, specific points in the signal that change in tandem with chemical concentration can be found. Thus, differential mobility spectrometry technology is capable of producing a signal responsive to changes in concentration of a particular component of the water composition and thus can be used effectively for contamination level monitoring. While this simplified approach of looking at total ion abundance at a particular compensation voltage does not make use of the full data resolution,  FIGS. 6A-6B  demonstrate that analysis done in this manner is capable of showing the satisfactory signal responsiveness. The characteristic upward sloping trend shows that signal amplitude increases with higher concentrations.  
         [0076]     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing form the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting on the invention described herein.