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梁化学传感器开发新型微型汞和有毒气体探测器。 这些传感器使用标准的微机电系统和集成电路微制造技术制造。在第一阶段项目期间，这些传感器被证明可以检测到低至十亿分之0.5（ppb）的汞蒸气浓度和低至50 ppb的硫醇。 在第一阶段项目中，简单快速的传感器再生技术得到了证明，同时沿着的还有去除灰尘和其他可能的化学干扰物的廉价有效的技术。 第二阶段项目将建造原型汞和汞探测器，并在实地条件下进行测试。 该仪器将在许多环境应用中找到应用，这些应用需要对空气、土壤、水和食物中的汞进行真实的实时、灵敏的分析，以及对天然气供应管道和设备中的泄漏进行实时检测。 基于微悬臂梁传感器技术的探测器将更加便携和灵敏，而且比目前可用的仪器更便宜。 还设想了基于该技术的用于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.