SBIR PHASE II: Ultrasensitive Elemental Mercury Pollution Monitor

这一小型企业创新研究第二阶段项目涉及使用最近开发的高灵敏度微悬臂式化学传感器开发新型微型汞和硫醇气体探测器。这些传感器使用标准的微电子机械系统和集成电路微制造技术制造。在第一阶段项目中，这些传感器被证明可以检测到汞蒸气浓度降至百万分之零点五(Ppb)，硫醇浓度降至50ppb。在第一阶段项目中展示了简单快速的传感器再生技术，以及廉价有效的除尘和其他可能的化学干扰的技术。第二阶段项目将建造汞和硫醇探测器的原型，并在现场条件下进行测试。该仪器将应用于需要对空气、土壤、水和食品中的汞进行实时、灵敏分析的众多环境应用中，以及天然气供应管道和电器中的硫醇泄漏检测。基于微悬臂梁传感器技术的探测器将比目前可用的仪器更便携、更灵敏，也更便宜。还设想了基于这项技术的其他蒸汽的个人监测器和传感器的开发。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project concerns the development of novel types of miniature mercury and mercaptan gas detectors using recently developed highly sensitive microcantilever chemical sensors. These sensors are manufactured using standard microelectromechanical systems and integrated circuit microfabrication techniques. During the Phase I project, these sensors were shown to detect mercury vapor concentrations down to 0.5 parts per billion(ppb) and mercaptans down to 50 ppb. Simple and rapid sensor regeneration techniques were demonstrated in the Phase I project, along with inexpensive and effective techniques for the removal of dust and other possible chemical interferents. The Phase II project will construct, and test under field conditions, prototype mercury and mercaptan detectors. The instrumentation will find application in numerous environmental applications requiring real time, sensitive analysis of mercury in air, soil, water, and food, and in mercaptan detection of leaks in natural gas supply lines and appliances. Detectors based on the microcantilever sensor technology will be far more portable and sensitive, and also less expensive than currently available instrumentation. The development of personal monitors and sensors for other vapors based on this technology is also envisioned.