PFI:AIR - TT: A Versatile E-Tongue for In Situ Detection of Heavy Metals in Water and Sediments

该创新伙伴关系：加速创新研究技术转化项目专注于转化模块化和现场可部署的电化学传感技术，以满足对水和沉积物中的有毒金属(如砷、镉、铜、铅、锌和汞)的快速、低成本和现场表征的需求。该项目将导致“电子舌头”探头的模块化原型的开发和现场演示。这种电子舌头探头将有助于准确、快速和经济有效地检测和量化重金属，并对改善人类的健康和安全产生直接影响。标准的光谱分析方法价格昂贵，体积庞大，需要训练有素的人员才能操作。与现有的实验室和便携式技术相比，电子舌头探头具有以下独特功能和优势：a)便携性和坚固性，可实现快速现场测试；b)高灵敏度，可检测低于EPA规定的最大污染限值的多种有毒金属离子；c)集成的pH和温度传感器，可提供更多数据并提高精度；d)方便用户使用；e)低成本。通过以足够的精度实时确定现场的重金属污染物水平，E-Toup探头可以帮助工程师做出现场决策，例如确定监测井的最佳位置，识别用于进行详细实验室测试的样本采集热点，以及调整现场活动以控制补救方案。它还将向监管机构提供关键信息，以便它们能够采取适当步骤，如及时传达饮用水建议。该项目将建立一个现场可展开的电子舌头探头原型，包括一个电化学传感器阵列、数据采集/控制和智能模式识别软件。为了开发原型，并从研究发现转向商业应用，该项目将解决以下技术差距：1)同时检测多种分析物，2)干扰化合物和电极污染，3)温度和pH的影响，4)监测井和沉积物测试系统中的采样挑战。这些技术差距将通过使用多个修饰电极来提高选择性和灵敏度，通过使用适当的采样电解液和电极保护策略来消除干扰和污染，集成pH和温度传感器以补偿pH和温度的变化，以及采用自动采样系统来弥补。该项目将为研究人员、博士后研究人员和研究生提供将新发现转化为解决现实世界问题的原型设备的经验，以及通过曼宁商学院的“全球创业和创新”计划提供跨学科、多元文化的全球创业体验。GeoProbe和K2 Engineering将在微型恒电位仪的原型E舌头探头和印刷电路板(PCB)的制造和组装方面进行合作。原型电子舌头探头的演示将与马萨诸塞州环境保护局(MASS DEP)和CH2M Hill合作进行。MASS DEP将帮助为原型演示找到合适的地点。CH2M Hill将合作在重金属污染的河流沉积物中演示电子舌头探测器。团队的不同技能和互补专业知识，以及与行业和监管机构(CH2M和大众环境保护署)的合作，将确保该项目的成功翻译。

This Partnership for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research Technology Translation project focuses on translating a modular and field deployable electrochemical sensing technology to fill the unmet need for rapid, low cost, and on-site characterization of toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, and mercury in water and sediments. This project will result in the development and field demonstration of a modular prototype "E-tongue" probe. This E-tongue probe will facilitate accurate, rapid, and cost-effective detection and quantification of heavy metals and have a direct impact on improving health and safety of humans. Standard spectro-analytical methods are expensive, bulky and require trained personnel for operation. The E-Tongue probe has the following unique features and advantages over existing laboratory and portable technologies, including: a) Portability and robustness, enabling rapid on-site testing; b) High sensitivity to detect multiple toxic metal ions below EPA specified maximum contamination limits; c) Integrated pH and temperature sensor for additional data and improved accuracy; d) User-friendly; and e) Low cost. By ascertaining levels of heavy metal contaminants at sites with sufficient accuracy in real-time, the E-Tongue probe can assist engineers to make onsite decisions, such as determining optimum locations for placement of monitoring wells, identifying hot-spots for sample collection for detailed laboratory testing, and adjusting field activity to control remediation options. It will also provide regulatory agencies with critical information so that they can take appropriate steps such as communicating drinking water advisories in a timely manner. The project will result in the creation of a field deployable prototype E-tongue probe comprising an electrochemical sensor array, data acquisition/control and intelligent pattern recognition software. To develop the prototype, and move from research discovery to commercial application, the project will address the following technology gaps: 1) Simultaneous detection of multiple analytes, 2) Interfering compounds and electrode fouling, 3) Effects of temperature and pH, 4) Sampling challenges in the monitoring well and sediment testing systems. These technology gaps will be overcome by the use of multiple modified electrodes to enhance selectivity and sensitivity, elimination of interference and fouling through the use of appropriate sampling electrolytes and electrode protection strategies, integration of pH and temperature sensors to compensate for variations in pH and temperature, and incorporation of automated sampling systems. This project will provide the investigators, postdoctoral researcher and graduate student, the experience in transforming novel discoveries into prototype devices to solve real-world problems, as well as interdisciplinary, multicultural, global entrepreneurship experience through the Manning School of Business "Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation" program. Geoprobe and K2 Engineering will partner in manufacturing the prototype E-Tongue probe and princed circuit board (PCB) fabrication and assembly of the miniature potentiostat. Demonstration of the prototype E-Tongue probe will be conducted in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) and CH2M Hill. Mass DEP will help locate appropriate sites for prototype demonstration. CH2M Hill will partner in the demonstration of the E-Tongue probe in heavy metal contaminated river sediments. The diverse skills and complementary expertise of the team, and collaborations with industry and regulatory agencies (CH2M, and Mass DEP) will ensure the successful translation of this project.