Grantee Research Project Results
Portable Spectrofluorometer with Unique UV Source
EPA Contract Number: 68D98122Title: Portable Spectrofluorometer with Unique UV Source
Investigators: Goldstein, Jack M.
Small Business: Moduspec Company
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1998 through March 1, 1999
Project Amount: $69,982
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , SBIR - Monitoring , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Under this project, Moduspec plans to develop a miniaturized portable spectrofluorometer with a unique UV excitation source to continuously analyze fluorescent material (in-situ) in water, other liquids, surfaces, and other matter suspected of contamination. The analyzer would serve both in laboratory and field studies. Fluorescence spectral analysis is widely employed in environmental monitoring. Oil, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other contaminants as well as microbial populations in liquids and on surfaces have spectral luminescence useful for identification and measurement. The analyzer would use a flow-through cell for continuous liquid analysis, and a fiber-optic (FO) probe for surface measurements. The measurements end of the FO probe could contain immobilized chemical or enzymatic reagents (FOCS), which would facilitate permitting biological and microbial analysis. Innovative features of the analyzer to be constructed and tested include a new type of UV excitation light source, an excitation monochromator mirror bypass, auto-calibration, photon counting detection, and small size. The mercury-phosphor light source is smaller and more power-efficient than previously used sources. The computerized analyzer would have two principle modes of operation. Monitor mode measures the concentration of a single compound versus time. Search mode identifies compound(s) by correlation techniques, prior to measurement in the monitor mode.Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, monitoring, analytical, chemistry, EPA., Scientific Discipline, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Analytical Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, environmental monitoring, monitoring, portable spectrometers, continuous measurement, environmental measurement, field monitoring, fiber optics, optical sensor, analyzer, optical detectors, PAH, environmental contaminants, PAHs, measurement, water contaminants, in situ chemical profilesProgress and Final Reports:
The 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.