SBIR Phase II: Real-Time Biosensor for Measuring Hazardous Chemical Contaminants in Ground Water

该小企业创新研究 (SBIR) 第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是提高识别、绘制和修复受氯化溶剂污染的水源的效率。 氯化溶剂被大量用作溶剂和脱脂剂以及干洗行业。由于氯化溶剂在世界各地的水源中广泛存在、毒性大且稳定性高，因此监测水中氯化溶剂的必要性将持续很多代。对于能够连续测量水中氯化有机化学品浓度、并且能够准确且廉价地测量的设备的需求将会不断增长。环境传感领域的连续原位数据生成将大大提高需要测量这些化学品的所有过程的效率，对与污染场地修复相关的成本和时间表产生重大影响。该传感器将允许在发生污染事件时连续监测可能的污染源。此外，它还可以轻松分析含水层中的污染羽流。该技术将取代当前基于实验室的测量协议，这些协议不易适应原位、在线或现场测量，并且无法连续产生数据。该SBIR第二阶段项目建议开发一种光学酶生物传感器，用于连续、定量监测水中的氯化溶剂浓度。地下水的氯化溶剂污染是世界各地普遍存在的问题。生物传感概念将以光纤形式实现，其中光学生物传感器尖端连接到小型电光单元。分析物检测在涂有酶和荧光化学物质的生物传感器尖端上进行。研究范围包括两种并行策略，以获得高度稳定的检测酶，从而实现长寿命传感器，开发将所需试剂输送到传感尖端的系统，开发信号处理算法以实现在可变环境条件下的高精度测量和混合物中氯化化合物的形态，传感器高通量制造的制造研究，以及在多个污染地点对设备进行现场测试。这些目标的实现将使传感技术发展成为一个强大且易于制造的氯化溶剂监测系统，具有低检测限、高精度和可靠性。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to increase the efficiency of identifying, mapping, and remediating water sources contaminated with chlorinated solvents. Chlorinated solvents are used in vast quantities as solvents and degreasing agents, and in the dry cleaning industry. The necessity of monitoring chlorinated solvents in water will continue for many generations due to their widespread occurrence in water sources around the world, their toxicity, and their high stability. A significant need exists and will grow for devices that can continuously measure the concentration of chlorinated organic chemicals in water, and that can do so accurately and inexpensively. Continuous in-situ data production in the field of environmental sensing will greatly increase efficiency in all processes that require a measurement of these chemicals, having a significant impact on the costs and timelines associated with remediation of contaminated sites. This sensor will allow for continuous monitoring of possible contamination sources in the case of a contamination event. Also, it will afford easy profiling of contamination plumes in aquifers. This technology will replace the current laboratory-based measurement protocols, which are not readily adapted for in-situ, on-line, or in-the-field measurements, and cannot produce data continuously.This SBIR Phase II project proposes to develop an optical enzymatic biosensor for continuous, quantitative monitoring of chlorinated solvent concentrations in water. Chlorinated solvent contamination of groundwater is a widespread ongoing issue around the world. The biosensing concept will be implemented in an optical fiber format, in which optical biosensor tips are linked to a small electro-optical unit. Analyte detection takes place on biosensor tips that are coated with enzymes and fluorescent chemicals. The scope of the research includes two parallel strategies for obtaining highly stable detection enzymes such that long lifetime sensors are achievable, development of a system to deliver required reagents to the sensing tip, development of signal processing algorithms to enable high accuracy measurements in variable environmental conditions and speciation of chlorinated compounds within mixtures, a manufacturing study for high throughput fabrication of the sensors, and field testing of the device at multiple contamination sites. Attainment of these objectives will advance the sensing technology to a robust and readily manufactured system for chlorinated solvent monitoring with low detection limits, high accuracy, and reliability.