Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Real-Time, In-Line Sensor for Wastewater Monitoring
EPA Contract Number: EPD12014Title: Real-Time, In-Line Sensor for Wastewater Monitoring
Investigators: Tomczak, Melanie
Small Business: UES Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012
Project Amount: $80,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2012) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Wastewater, Stormwater, and Water Reuse
Description:
The goal of this project is to develop a multiplexed sensor platform to identify biological agents in real-time for application in wastewater treatment plants. UES has proprietary ligands that specifically capture biological agents, and has developed the corresponding support electronics to report and relay the detection results. The integration of these elements with the sensor platform under development in this effort will result in a real-time monitoring system for wastewater treatment plants, and can be expanded to other uses such as recreational water and ballast water analysis.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
UES has demonstrated multiplexed detection of two bacteria, E. coli and Bacillus subtilis spores, alongside Shiga-like toxin 1. Additionally during the Phase I effort, E. coli detection to lower limits of detection between 101-102 CFU/mL were achieved within 30 µs of device interrogation. Tests of UES's sensor platform were also performed using post-treatment wastewater effluent, collected at a local wastewater treatment facility. These tests showed there was not significant interference of the dissolved solids from the wastewater effluent with the sensor platform.
Commercialization:
During the Phase I effort, emphasis was placed on continued development of the plan to bring our sensor platform to market. UES scientists and corporate representatives attended several conferences focused on water technology, which provided a venue to meet many interested parties both from the various levels of government regulatory agencies (local, state and federal) as well as from large and small businesses. These interactions provided a basis for what specifications are desired and/or required, as well as the barriers of entry to market.
During the Phase I effort, we had several discussions with a local county wastewater treatment entity regarding integration of our technology into their SCADA-equipped facilities. They are interested in becoming Phase II partners in order to support our initial lab-based tests, which will be followed by field tests at their facility. This type of beta-testing is a significant step towards commercialization of our sensor and should provide valuable data regarding the ruggedness and reliability of our sensor system. Additionally, a close relationship with such a municipality will help UES to better understand the current regulations and requirements, and how our technology could meet or exceed those requirements in order to become an approved technology.
Through our interactions with government agencies and industry, we have identified two additional markets that would benefit from our sensor platform, namely recreational water and ballast water monitoring. Regulations regarding ballast water treatment against microbial contaminants may be in effect by the end of 2013. In order to ensure treatment has been effective, appropriate monitoring/ sensing technologies are required, and UES is hopeful that our sensor platform can provide such verification in real-time on-board a ship. UES has been involved in discussions with industry and government agencies to identify the sensing needs and requirements of the proposed regulations.
Recreational water is a source of human illness every summer. UES's sensor platform could provide real-time information about the presence of E. coli and Shiga toxins in recreational water, and even direct municipalities towards the source of contamination. The recreational water market has lower barriers to entry than either the wastewater treatment or ballast water markets, due to fewer regulations. During Phase II, UES also will pursue recreational water beta testing sites, working in conjunction with local municipalities and a local water conservancy. Several agencies in our local region have expressed interest in supporting such beta testing and have offered cooperation with their current test plans, so that parallel samples can be taken and directly compared to standard methodologies.
With the feedback we receive from the beta-testing outlined above, UES plans to initiate small scale manufacturing of the sensor platforms with form factors appropriate for the different applications. As well, UES will actively seek acceptance of our sensors as EPA approved methods to test for biological agents such as E. coli and Shiga toxins in the applications described here.
UES has a 39-year history of successfully transitioning products and services to government and industry customers, and we believe this technology holds significant value in a number of markets. We have developed an initial strategy to reach the wastewater treatment, ballast water, and recreational water markets. The UES team has the knowledge and experience to bring this sensor to market, and has established the connections within the water market and regulatory arena to ensure success.
Conclusions:
The Phase I effort has shown that the UES sensor platform can specifically detect E. coli within time frames that are orders of magnitude faster than the current state-of-the-art (30 µs vs. 30+ minutes for current rapid tests or several days for current standard tests). Additionally, the sensor platform can be multiplexed for detection of multiple agents simultaneously, and UES has shown that two bacteria and a biotoxin can be detected simultaneously. UES has tested complex sample matrices, without significant interference and will work with municipalities to perform beta testing of our sensor platform in Phase II.
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.