Grantee Research Project Results
Chemical Microsensors and Instrumentation for Real-Time Continuous Monitoring and Control of Mercury Emissions
EPA Contract Number: 68D40030Title: Chemical Microsensors and Instrumentation for Real-Time Continuous Monitoring and Control of Mercury Emissions
Investigators: Sorensen, Ian W.
Small Business: ChemAlert Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1994 through March 1, 1995
Project Amount: $54,914
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1994) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , SBIR - Monitoring , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
This project addresses the national need to continuously monitor and control mercury emissions from industrial, municipal, and energy-production sources. The proposed development of novel chemical microsensors and instrumentation have a unique combination of advantages to satisfy this need. The small sample size required by the microsensors in these instruments will both prolong their useful lifetime in corrosive environments and greatly simplify any sample-conditioning requirements. Moreover, they can be mass produced on silicon wafers using standard methods to significantly reduce costs, while achieving high reproducibility and minimizing calibration requirements. The objective of this Phase I research is to determine the feasibility of developing a new generation of mercury continuous emissions monitors based on robust thin-film chemical microsensors. Phase I research will focus on the development, evaluation and optimization of the microsensors for real-time continuous monitoring of mercury. These microsensors will provide the basis for the fabrication of continuous emissions analyzer for both elemental and total mercury in Phase II that will be evaluated at several stationary sources prior to commercialization in Phase III.Supplemental Keywords:
Microsensor, Analysis, Monitoring, Continuous Monitoring., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Toxics, Waste, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, National Recommended Water Quality, Chemical Engineering, HAPS, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, Incineration/Combustion, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, 33/50, Environmental Engineering, mercury, continuous measurement, real time, continuous monitoring, mercury monitoring, continuous emissions monitoring, microsensor, mercury & mercury compounds, Mercury Compounds, real time monitoringProgress 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.