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

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是提高识别、测绘和修复被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，也用于干洗行业。由于氯化溶剂在世界各地的水源中广泛存在，其毒性和高稳定性，因此对水中氯溶剂进行监测的必要性将持续许多代。对能够连续测量水中氯化有机化学物质浓度的设备的巨大需求已经存在，而且还将继续增长，这种设备必须做到准确而廉价。在环境传感领域持续的现场数据生产将大大提高需要测量这些化学品的所有过程的效率，对与污染场地的补救有关的费用和时间表产生重大影响。这种传感器将允许在污染事件的情况下对可能的污染源进行连续监测。此外，它还可以很容易地描绘含水层中的污染羽流。该技术将取代目前基于实验室的测量方案，这些方案不容易适应现场、在线或现场测量，并且不能连续产生数据。该SBIR二期项目旨在开发一种光学酶生物传感器，用于连续定量监测水中氯化溶剂浓度。地下水的氯化溶剂污染是世界范围内普遍存在的问题。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与一个小型光电单元相连。分析物检测发生在涂有酶和荧光化学物质的生物传感器尖端上。研究范围包括两种平行策略，用于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，以便在可变环境条件下进行高精度测量，并在混合物中形成氯化化合物，对传感器的高通量制造进行研究。并在多个污染地点进行现场测试。这些目标的实现将推动传感技术成为一个强大的、易于制造的系统，用于氯化溶剂监测，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.