Grantee Research Project Results
2022 Progress Report: A Biopolymer-based Simple Lead Check in Tap Water
EPA Grant Number: SV840021Title: A Biopolymer-based Simple Lead Check in Tap Water
Investigators: Lee, Woo Hyoung , Cho, Hyoung Jin , Hwang, Jae-Hoon
Current Investigators: Lee, Woo Hyoung
Institution: University of Central Florida
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Phase: II
Project Period: July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022 (Extended to June 30, 2023)
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2021 through June 30,2022
Project Amount: $75,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2020) Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards
Objective:
Although there is increasing demand for on-site monitoring of heavy metal ions in drinking water, traditional methods such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) often require large, expensive instruments, highly trained technicians, considerable time-consuming efforts, large volumes of reagents, and an invasive collection of samples in the field. The problems associated with the multitude of operational responses to on-site lead detection tools demonstrate a clear motivation for a solution that would lead to a simple lead check with less workforce needed, lower operational cost, and less analytical time and sample collection consuming effort. The primary object of the Phase II project is to develop a novel biopolymer-modified carbon sensor for the simple and rapid detection of lead in tap water. The main hypothesis of the project is that biopolymer (e.g., chitosan) structure would improve lead ion detection due to the sensitivity of amino (–NH2) and hydroxyl (–OH) groups in its molecular structure towards lead ions. We focus on the roll-to-roll fabrication for stable sensor productivity and a universal wireless electrochemical detector (UWED) process for in-situ lead detection in real environments. This project established and advanced fundamentals associated with a vision of conservation of our water quality measurement using an innovative microsensor that could help in situ monitoring in the field (e.g., house plumbing systems). The specific objectives of the Phase II project are:
- Fabricate chitosan modified screen-printed carbon electrode using the electro-deposition method.
- Use developed sensors for multiple metal ion detection.
- Optimize the electro-deposition parameters for optimal stability and sensor performance.
- Characterize fabricated chitosan sensor using FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and electrochemical surface characterization tools.
- Investigate universal wireless electrochemical detector (UWED) using the developed sensor in drinking water.
This project will also allow graduate and undergraduate students to design technical solutions to current sustainability challenges.
Progress Summary:
During the reporting period (Year 2), the lead detection microsensor was evaluated under different water environments such as tap water, mining wastewater, and soil leachate for future application evaluation. The novel chitosan-modified screen-printed carbon electrode, flexible copper-biopolymer nanocomposite sensors, was fabricated by electrodeposition of biopolymer metal composite material. The copper coating and chitosan layer was confirmed using surface characterization methods (e.g., SEM, XPS, and FT-IR). The morphological and chemical analysis of the composite films were investigated using the scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was evaluated the electrode's electron transfer properties before and after surface modifications. The developed microsensors were tested under different operational conditions of Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (SWASV), which include; varying deposition time, amplitude, and frequency for the initial deposition of heavy metal ions on the electrode. The SWASV optimal parameters of the copper-biopolymer nanocomposite sensors were 300 s deposition time, -1.2 V deposition potential, 0.004 V potential step, 0.1 V amplitude, and 20 Hz frequency, respectively. Prioritizing a more relevant pollutant among others, the developed sensor has been investigated for lead detection under different types of water such as tap water, mining wastewater, and soil leachate. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.72 ppb for tap water, 1.4 ppb for mining wastewater, and 1.54 ppb for soil leachate. Similarly, the reproducibility of the sensor for the mining wastewater and soil leachate samples exhibited consistent sensitivity for ten successive measurements with an RSD of 1.93% and 8.75% with a recovery of 96.5% and 94.8%, respectively.
Future Activities:
We will continue to work on the optimization of the sensor fabrication processes, making those suitable for the roll-to-roll technique. Going forward with this project, its progress in material fabrication and universal wireless electrochemical detector (UWED) will allow for field application providing research in fields such as for commercial use or private sector use.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 12 publications | 5 publications in selected types | All 5 journal articles |
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Stoll S, Hwang J, Fox D, Kim K, Zhai L, Lee W. Cost-effective screen-printed carbon electrode biosensors for rapid detection of microcystin-LR in surface waters for early warning of harmful algal blooms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; |
SV840021 (2022) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Composite nanomaterials, Environmental sensors, Flexible sensors, Heavy metal ions, Water pollution
Relevant Websites:
Microsensor Biofilm Research Laboratory Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
A Biopolymer-based Simple Lead Check in Tap Water | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.