Grantee Research Project Results
Lab-on-a-chip sensors for organic pollutants in homes
EPA Contract Number: EPD17001Title: Lab-on-a-chip sensors for organic pollutants in homes
Investigators: Silva, Geethanga de
Small Business: Prometheus SenTech, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: November 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017
Project Amount: $99,389
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2016) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Air and Climate
Description:
Exposure to hazardous organic compounds (OCs) in the indoor environment can cause serious health issues. There are no commercially available devices for inexpensive autonomous continuous monitoring of OCs that generates actionable data (identification and quantification of the compound) that can be used for reducing the health risks associated with OC exposure. The proposed sensor technology has performance of laboratory grade analytical instruments and usability of a smoke detector. Preliminary work clearly demonstrates the feasibility of the sensor technology. A unique feature and a breakthrough in sensor technology is the ability to chemically identify a compound at trace level concentrations. The global air quality monitoring equipment market expected to reach 6.1 billion by 2019. We have indentified the industries those produce excess amount of OCs such as the petroleum industry as the early adopter of the technology. We intend to develop an industrial monitor using the technology developed at the end of Phase I. The non-industrial OC monitor market has not shown much potential due to limitations of the sensor technology. We intend to expand this market using a low cost sensor module that generates actionable information with minimum additional cost to the end user at the end of Phase II.
Progress 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.