Grantee Research Project Results
Microelectrochemical Capillary System for Environmental Analytical Lab on a Chip
EPA Contract Number: EPD11029Title: Microelectrochemical Capillary System for Environmental Analytical Lab on a Chip
Investigators: Denvir, Adrian J.
Current Investigators: Vaidya, Bikas
Small Business: Lynntech Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2011 through August 31, 2011
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Nanotechnology
Description:
As part of its mission to protect human health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is dedicated to developing and promoting innovative cleanup strategies that restore contaminated sites to productive use, reduce associated costs, and promote environmental stewardship. In adopting this strategy, however, there will be an increasing need to implement a more cost-effective, long-term monitoring strategy for all remediation sites, as well as for the surrounding areas, that cannot be adequately addressed by the current state of the art monitoring technologies. To address the problem, Lynntech proposes to develop a new, automated field deployable environmental laboratory with the ability to simultaneously analyze both organic pollutants and metal contaminants in environmental samples. The key component of the system is a new multichannel, micro capillary electrochemical-driven device that uses electrokinetic-induced electroosmotic flow for both metal and organic separation and identification. This unit is highly synergistic to many of the complementary processing and analytical microfluidic devices that have been developed by Lynntech for environmental monitoring. These include an electrochemical stripping and purge and trap system, an electrochemical micropump, a microelectrode system for stripping voltammetry analysis, and an optical detection system. In Phase I, Lynntech will demonstrate a low cost, “Green Remediation” compliant remote monitoring system with the ability to detect both metal and organic contaminants from a mixture in levels below 10 ppb.
There is a strong commercial pull for this technology. EPA policy along with customer feedback and need is driving the development of this product that fits directly into growing $3.8 billion dollar instrumentation industry. The combination of “green technology,” very low reagent needs, long-term remote monitoring capabilities, reduction in operational costs, and a strong commercial pull provides an environment for rapid market acceptance. As Lynntech moves from Phase I to Phase II, it will engage the expertise of an external consulting group to conduct a Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) report based on its customer feedback, and other new commercial vendors on expanding its market share for this technology.
Progress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
Microelectrochmical Capillary System for Environmental Analytical Lab on a Chip | 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.