Grantee Research Project Results
Chemical Microsensors and Instrumentation for Continuous Monitoring and Control of Mercury Emissions
EPA Contract Number: 68D50121Title: Chemical Microsensors and Instrumentation for Continuous Monitoring and Control of Mercury Emissions
Investigators: Sorensen, Ian W.
Small Business: Senova Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1995 through April 1, 1996
Project Amount: $219,185
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:
This project addresses the national need to continuously monitor and control mercury emission 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 II project is to develop a new generation of mercury continuous emissions monitors based on the robust thin-film chemical microsensors developed in Phase I. The Phase II effort will focus on the development, evaluation and optimization of an EPA-protocol-based sample conditioning system interfaced to an ultrasensitive mercury analyzer to achieve reliable continuous monitoring of mercury from combustion sources. This Phase II project will provide the basis for the commercialization of a continuous mercury emissions monitor that will be evaluated at several combustion sources prior to commercialization in Phase III.Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, engineering, chemistry., RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Air, Waste, Toxics, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, 33/50, Analytical Chemistry, Incineration/Combustion, Monitoring/Modeling, Atmospheric Sciences, air toxics, Environmental Engineering, mercury & mercury compounds, silicon wafers, combustion contaminants, incineration, chemical characteristics, industrial waste, ambient monitoring, atmospheric chemistry, environmental monitoring, chemical composition, combustion byproducts, industrial air pollution, combustion technology, aerosol analyzers, continuous emissions monitoring, air pollutants, air pollution, chemical microsensors, continuous monitoring, ultrasensitive mercury analyzer, mercury 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.