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

PFI:AIR - TT：用于原位检测水和沉积物中重金属的多功能电子舌

• 批准号: 1543042
• 负责人: Pradeep Kurup
• 金额: $ 20万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Lowell
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-09-15 至 2021-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1543042&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PFI; AIR; TT; Versatile; Tongue

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.

这种创新合作伙伴关系：加速创新研究技术翻译项目的重点是翻译模块化和现场可部署的电化学传感技术，以满足对快速，低成本和现场表征对有毒金属（如砷，钙含量，钙含量，铜，铜，铅，铅，锌和水中）的未满足需求。该项目将导致模块化原型“ e-tongue”探针的开发和现场演示。这项电子丁格探针将促进重金属的准确，快速和成本效益的检测和量化，并直接影响改善人类的健康和安全性。标准的光谱分析方法昂贵，笨重，需要训练有素的人员进行操作。电子丁格探针具有以下独特的特征和优势，比现有实验室和便携式技术，包括：a）便携性和鲁棒性，实现了快速的现场测试； b）高灵敏度检测到EPA以下的多种有毒金属离子指定的最大污染极限； c）集成的pH和温度传感器以获得其他数据并提高精度； d）用户友好；和e）低成本。通过确定实时准确性的位点上的重金属污染物的水平，电子丁格探测器可以帮助工程师做出现场决策，例如确定放置监视井的最佳位置，确定用于详细的实验室测试的样品收集热点，并调整现场活动以控制补救选项。它还将为监管机构提供关键信息，以便他们可以采取适当的步骤，例如及时沟通饮用水咨询。该项目将导致创建一个现场可部署的原型电子丁字管探针，其中包括电化学传感器阵列，数据采集/控制和智能模式识别软件。为了开发原型，从研究发现到商业应用，该项目将解决以下技术差距：1）同时检测多个分析物，2）干扰化合物和电极结垢，3）温度和pH值的影响，4）在监测井和沉积物测试系统中采样挑战。通过使用多个修饰的电极来通过使用适当的采样电解质和电极保护策略来提高选择性和敏感性，消除干扰和结垢，将pH和温度传感器的集成以补偿pH和温度的变化以及结合自动采样系统的变化，可以克服这些技术差距。该项目将为研究人员，博士后研究人员和研究生提供将新颖发现转化为原型设备的经验，以解决现实世界中的问题，以及通过曼宁商业学院的“全球企业家和创新”计划。 Geoprobe和K2 Engineering将合作制造Miniature Potentiostat的原型电子丁格探针和王子电路板（PCB）制造和组装。将与马萨诸塞州环境保护部（Mass DEP）和CH2M Hill合作进行原型电子丁字牙探针的演示。质量DEP将有助于找到适当的原型演示场所。 CH2M Hill将在重金属污染的河流沉积物中进行E-Angue探针的演示。团队的各种技能和补充专业知识以及与行业和监管机构（CH2M和Mass Dep）的合作将确保该项目的成功翻译。