Grantee Research Project Results
Ultrasensitive Acrolein Sensor for Environmental Monitoring
EPA Contract Number: EPD06023Title: Ultrasensitive Acrolein Sensor for Environmental Monitoring
Investigators: Richman, Bruce
Small Business: Picarro, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2006 through August 31, 2006
Project Amount: $69,284
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2006) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Particulate Matter , Watersheds , Endocrine Disruptors , Environmental Engineering , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Air Quality and Air Toxics , SBIR - Air and Climate
Description:
Picarro, Inc., will build a trace gas sensor based on cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) targeting the acrolein absorption band at 1623 nm for environmental monitoring. Acrolein is a ubiquitous airborne pollutant. Its sources include burning vegetation (e.g., forest fires), waste incinerators, furnaces, fireplace, gasoline- and diesel-engine emissions, power plants, polyethylene combustion, cigarette smoke, and the cooking of food. Acrolein is extremely toxic to humans and is listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as one of 33 hazardous air pollutants. Picarro intends to determine whether a sensor based on CRDS can be used to detect acrolein with a sensitivity of 1 ppb in the presence of H2O, CO2, CO, and other potential sources of interference in the atmosphere and in combustion exhaust. Picarro will measure the optical absorption spectrum of the 1623 nm band along with potential interferants. Picarro also will determine the performance characteristics of the sensor including precision, accuracy, linearity, and lower detectable limit.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, acrolein, hazardous air pollutant, HAP, trace gas sensor, spectroscopy, Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy, environmental monitoring, EPA, analytical, air pollution,, Scientific Discipline, Air, INDUSTRY, Industrial Processes, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Environmental Engineering, hazardous air pollutants, air quality field measurements, environmental monitoring, trace gases, combustion, HAPS, ambient emissions, acrolein sensor, ambient air pollution, emissions contol engineeringProgress 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.