Grantee Research Project Results
Catalytically Activated Monitor for Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
EPA Contract Number: 68D50114Title: Catalytically Activated Monitor for Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
Investigators: Kittrell, J. R.
Small Business: KSE Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1995 through March 1, 1997
Project Amount: $220,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (1995) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , SBIR - Monitoring , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Widespread implementation of chlorinated volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions control technologies is anticipated for manufacturing plants and remediation of historical groundwater and soil contamination. To facilitate compliance monitoring and to improve cost-effectiveness of control technologies, a reliable, continuous CVOC monitor is essential. Current CVOC instruments do not meet this growing need for air toxic monitors. Such monitors must be inexpensive, continuous, capable of analyzing ppb level so CVOCs, robust, field usable, and capable of alarms, hardcopy compliance documentation, and signal processing for control systems.The Phase I research clearly demonstrated the technical and economic feasibility of a continuous CVOC monitor meeting these requirements. The monitor exploits a unique CVOC oxidation catalyst to convert CVOCs exclusively to inorganic chlorine compounds, which in turn are measured by existing commercial instruments. Enhanced sensitivity arises from the favorable reaction stoichiometry, allowing measurements at ppb levels of CVOCs.
The proposed Phase II research completes development of the CVOC monitor, including catalyst and systems optimization, performance confirmation on additional CVOCs, prototype construction, and alpha prototype field testing. Due to the availability of components, rapid development and deployment of the inexpensive monitor is anticipated, providing a significantly more cost-effective alternative for CVOC monitoring.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, engineering, chemistry., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Waste, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, air toxics, Contaminated Sediments, Remediation, Environmental Chemistry, Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Engineering, ambient air quality, air pollutants, catalyst, contaminated soil, catalysts, chemical contaminants, air pollution, chlorinated organic compounds, groundwater remediation, continuous emissions monitoring, chlorinated VOCs, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), contaminated aquifers, real-time monitoring, groundwater, air qualityProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Catalytically Activated Monitor for Chlorinated HydrocarbonsThe 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.