Grantee Research Project Results
Multimetals Monitoring System Based Upon Spark-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
EPA Contract Number: EPD05060Title: Multimetals Monitoring System Based Upon Spark-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Investigators: Hunter, Amy J.R.
Small Business: Physical Sciences Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006
Project Amount: $224,877
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2005) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop a multimetals emissions monitor to support Title V permitting of large air pollution sources based on its patented spark-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SIBS) technology. Work prior to Phase I has shown that this technique is capable of sensitively monitoring metals in airborne particles that emit in the visible range (e.g., Pb, Cr, and Cd). To be useful for measuring all metallic hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), however, use of SIBS in the deep ultraviolet must be developed.
In Phase I, therefore, PSI began the development of SIBS capability to monitor As and Se, which have strong emissions at 193.7 and 196.0 nm, respectively. This ability will be optimized in Phase II and then it will be married to the existing SIBS technology to create the basis of a monitor that is able to identify and quantify all HAP metals. This monitor will be very useful in enabling large air pollution sources, such as incinerators and power plants, to meet the Title V obligations of emissions monitoring and reporting. The SIBS monitor will operate in real time, an improvement over the currently used U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reference Method 29, an extractive technique that is labor intensive, slow, and not amenable to automation.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, multimetals monitoring, spark-induced breakdown spectroscopy, SIBS, air pollution, hazardous air pollutants, HAPs, metals, incinerators, power plants, emissions, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, particulate matter, Air Quality, Environmental Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, particle size, monitoring, chemical characteristics, human health effects, aerosol particles, air quality models, HAPS, gas chromatography, air quality model, air sampling, ambient emissions, chemical detection techniques, emissions, metal speciation, particulate matter mass, particle sampler, human exposure, multimetal emissions, arsenic speciation, spark induced breakdown spectroscopy, aerosol analyzersProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Multimetals Emission Monitoring System Based on Spark-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy | 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.