PFI:AIR - TT: A FIELDABLE SPECIATION-CAPABLE GREEN ANALYZER FOR ARSENIC

这个PFI: AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译美国国家科学基金会资助的砷测定及其化学形态的基础研究，以满足现场实时地下水砷测定的需求，以确定其是否被砷的有毒水平污染并确定其类型。该项目将产生一种便携式、手持式、“绿色”的砷分析仪原型。该仪器具有以下独特功能：(a)它可以区分毒性较大的亚砷酸盐和毒性较小且更容易去除的砷酸盐；(b)它可以测量低至十亿分之一的水平；(c)它是一个真正的绿色分析仪，使用空气，水和电，少量的硫酸可以回收；(d)它在非常低的外形因素下提供强大的性能。与目前市场上可用的砷电化学仪器相比，这些特点提供了低成本和便携性、高灵敏度、低功耗和极低耗材成本的优势。该项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的转化过程中，将原始的台式概念验证转换为具有小而有吸引力的外形因素的用户友好型仪器的技术差距。该项目与Chipotle商业集团公司合作，增强他们的水分析能力，在开发过程中为设备提供现场测试环境，进行市场研究以确定客户群体，并在这项技术转化工作中为仪器开发商业化途径。这种绿色的砷分析仪很重要，因为它弥合了学术分析仪器和低成本商业设备之间的差距，将有助于人类。这项技术将帮助数百万人，特别是来自世界各地的发展中国家的人，他们有可能受到砷中毒的影响，砷中毒是由于长期接触砷而导致的饮用水。砷是地球上含量第20多的元素？地壳。即使在发达国家，也有许多地区的地下水砷浓度很高；该技术将有助于实施水质控制法规和监测除砷工作的效果。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating NSF sponsored fundamental research in arsenic determination and its chemical speciation to fill the need for on-site real-time arsenic determination of ground water to determine whether or not it is contaminated with toxic levels of arsenic and to determine the type. The project will result in a portable, hand-held, "green" field-ready arsenic analyzer prototype. This instrument has the following unique features: (a) it can differentiate between the more toxic arsenite from the less toxic and more easily removable arsenate (b) it can measure both down to sub parts per billion levels, (c) it is a true green analyzer that uses air, water and electricity, with a small amount of sulfuric acid that can be recycled, and (d) it offers robust performance within a very low form factor. These features provide the advantages of low cost and portability, high sensitivity, low power consumption and very low cost of consumables when compared to the electrochemical instruments for arsenic currently available in this market space. This project addresses the technology gap of converting the original bench-top proof-of-concept to an instrument with a small, attractive form factor in a user-friendly form as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application.The project engages Chipotle Business Group Inc. to augment their water analysis capabilities, provide field testing environment for the device during development, conduct a market study to identify customer segments, and develop pathways to commercialization for the instrument in this technology translation effort.This green analyzer for arsenic is important because it bridges the gap between an academic analytical instrument and a low-cost commercial device that will help humanity. This technology will help the millions of people, especially from the developing countries across the world, who are at the risk of being affected by arsenicosis, which is caused by chronic arsenic exposure through drinking water. Arsenic is the 20th most abundant element in the earth?s crust. Even in developed countries there are many areas where groundwater arsenic concentration is high; this technology will be helpful in implementing water quality control regulations and monitoring the efficacy of arsenic removal efforts.