Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Reagentless Field-Usable Fixed-Site and Portable Analyzer for Trihalomethane (THM) Concentrations in Drinking Water
EPA Contract Number: EPD10060Title: Reagentless Field-Usable Fixed-Site and Portable Analyzer for Trihalomethane (THM) Concentrations in Drinking Water
Investigators: Findlay, Mel
Small Business: KWJ Engineering, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2012
Project Amount: $224,713
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2010) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Water and Wastewater
Description:
In this SBIR project, KWJ Engineering (KWJ) developed a MEMS planar sensor chip with the rare-earth sensory coating on it and demonstrated that it is responsive to THMs at low ppb levels. In Phase I, KWJ fabricated and tested a planar version of the sensor, demonstrating the ability to detect ppb-levels of the THMs. In Phase II, KWJ worked to optimize this sensor and develop an instrument/method for effective monitoring of TTHM in drinking water that could provide a new field capability for environmental monitoring, saving significant time and cost in implementing EPA drinking water standards. The Phase II research effort focused on putting the sensor on the MEMS platform, optimizing the method and sampler design, building a field prototype instrument, and validating a simple sensor-method with a target of <10ug/L for all THM species. The resulting analyzer was tested in the laboratory for analytical level monitoring of drinking water for TTHMs. This sensory approach would enable THM analysis virtually anywhere, anytime, on-the-spot, and at low cost. Additional applications were studied as potential commercial markets and included pool and spa monitoring, as well as industrial water and groundwater measurements and landfill analysis.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Conclusions:
All of the project objectives were met: the sensor was placed on a low-cost MEMS substrate, the instrumentation and method for ppb-level monitoring was demonstrated, the sampling interface was effective and laboratory comparisons to the existing methods were accomplished. The potential applications for this sensory approach to TTHM monitoring would be large in EPA and spin off applications. However, for commercial success, improved stability and lifetime for the MEMS sensor platform must be addressed. The simplicity of the resulting monitor (no carrier gas, no consumables or reagents) would allow operation by facility staff with little or no training in comparison to current requirements for operation of complex instrumentation such as gas chromatographs or GC/MS based methods. The portability and comparatively low cost of a MEMS sensor approach would enable higher quality and more frequent online monitoring for EPA drinking water and other applications in more locations and at more times with sample transfer issues.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
water monitoring, halogenated hydrocarbon, THM, HAA, MEMS, electrochemical sensorSBIR Phase I:
Reagentless Field-Usable Fixed-Site and Portable Analyzer for Trihalomethane (THM) Concentrations in Drinking Water | 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.