Grantee Research Project Results
Rapid Field Trace Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Substance in Water
EPA Contract Number: 68HERC20C0052Title: Rapid Field Trace Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Substance in Water
Investigators: Wang, Qingwu
Small Business: 2WiTech, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: June 1, 2020 through May 31, 2022 (Extended to November 30, 2022)
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2020) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Due to increasing concerns over the long-term health effects of PFOS and PFAS on the human body, regulatory agencies have set limits for the concentrations of PFOS and PFAS in drinking water. Currently, lab-based PFOA and PFOS water tests cost $200-$300 per sample, with a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks. In this program, 2W iTech LLC proposes to develop a low-cost fieldable sensing technology for detecting trace amounts of PFOA and PFOS in water down to 10 ppt. This unique molecular-imprinting-based analytical technique, which does not require any complicated instrumentation, will utilize a tiny, polymeric chip to measure the concentration of fluorocarbons in aqueous solution. The proposed sensor will offer the following advanced attributes: high sensitivity, high specificity, fast detection, ease of operation, low power consumption, zero chemical release, and low operation cost.
In Phase I, 2W iTech successfully demonstrated the feasibility of field analysis of PAS using the proposed molecularly imprinted polymer sensing technology. A fabrication process for the molecularly imprinted sensor has been developed, and PFOA-imprinted sensors have been fabricated and evaluated. A detection limit of 10ppt was achieved for the trace detection of PFOA in a lab setting. These Phase I development efforts have led to a patent application, which was filed in October 2019. In Phase I, we performed a commercialization assessment of the proposed field PFAS sensing technology and discovered that significant environmental benefits can be expected from this field sensing technology. It has been confirmed that the detection of PFAS compounds in the field is absolutely a big problem to solve, and that current lab testing services are time-consuming and expensive and create bottlenecks for fairly large projects. Environmental engineering firms working on PFAS field analysis and treatment have shown tremendous interest in this technology, including Jacobs, Arcadis, and Carollo Engineers. In Phase II, the sensor fabrication process will be optimized and scaled-up, and selected sensors will be validated for field PFAS analysis. The goal of this Phase II program is to further develop this sensing technology toward full-scale commercialization.
Progress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Rapid Field Trace Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Substance in 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.