Low Cost Junction Sensors for Water Quality Monitoring

用于水质监测的低成本结式传感器

• 批准号: NE/I019456/1
• 负责人: Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern
• 金额: $ 9.09万
• 依托单位: University of Bath
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Training Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2011 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FI019456%2F1
• 关键词: Low; Cost; Junction; Sensors; Water

Monitoring water quality in several locations (mapping) and as a function of time poses a huge challenge when expensive analytical laboratory tools are required. This is currently the case for the determination of trace levels of pharmacologically active compounds (PACs, e.g. anti-inflammatory drugs such as paracetamol, antidepressants, beta-blockers, antibiotics and illicit drugs) which are recognised as emerging environmental micropollutants but also have potential applications as key markers for water quality and tell-tale indicators for drug consumption. Our recent studies on electro-analytical junction sensors with electro-formed micro- and nanogaps suggest that a 'revolution' is possible in low cost instant sensing and remote chemical analysis. In this project novel nanogap sensors will be fabricated and employed for monitoring trace impurities in sewage and water. Comparison with mass spectroscopy will provide an assessment of reliability for real samples. Low cost devices with a rate of one measurement per minute will be developed for future application in distributed sensor networks for real time sampling. Such devices have huge potential for environmental monitoring of many PACs (and other organic micropollutants) and will result in a significant advance in knowledge concerning environmental pollution. The project will be carried out by a PhD researcher with the main aim of developing new junction sensor knowledge and applications in water quality monitoring. Fundamental chemical knowledge and environmental science knowledge will be obtained and new versatile measurement tools developed. Feasibility will be demonstrated and the power of the junction electrode approach developed with the view to exploit future commercial cooperation. Key objectives are: (i) to make novel and highly sensitive sensor devices; (ii) to improve junction characteristics (gap size, surface roughness, materials, geometry, etc.); (iii) to exploit the presence of short lived intermediates during junction processes (with life times down to ca. 30 ns in 10 nm gap systems); (iv) to employ junction electrodes in modulator-sensor mode (where one or more 'modulator' electrodes generate reactive intermediates such as hydroxide or other reactive intermediates to assist the sensitive detection at the 'sensor' electrode); (v) to provide a low cost sensor device with remote operation. The project target is a 24 hour operation with one measurement per minute; (vi) to validate the device according to set analytical standards required for measurement of trace levels of organic micropollutants in the environment; (vii) to compare the performance of newly developed sensor in terms of its sensitivity and selectivity with LC-MS system equipped with Q-TOF for accurate mass measurement; and (viii) to undertake a short monitoring program in the River Avon and a local wastewater treatment plant with the usage of both remote sensing and LC-MS instrumentation in order to verify their performance in real time scenarios.

当需要昂贵的分析实验室工具时，监测几个地点的水质（绘图）和时间的函数构成了巨大的挑战。目前的情况是测定药理学活性化合物（PACs，例如抗炎药，如扑热息痛、抗抑郁药、-受体阻滞剂、抗生素和非法药物）的痕量水平，这些化合物被认为是新兴的环境微污染物，但也有潜在的应用，可以作为水质的关键标志和药物消费的线索指标。我们最近对电形成微间隙和纳米间隙的电分析结传感器的研究表明，在低成本的即时传感和远程化学分析方面可能会发生“革命”。本课题将制作新型纳米间隙传感器，用于监测污水和水中的微量杂质。与质谱的比较将提供真实样品的可靠性评估。未来将开发低成本设备，每分钟测量一次，用于分布式传感器网络的实时采样。这种装置对许多pac（和其他有机微污染物）的环境监测具有巨大潜力，并将导致有关环境污染的知识的重大进展。该项目将由一名博士研究员进行，主要目的是开发新的连接传感器知识和在水质监测中的应用。获得基本的化学知识和环境科学知识，开发新的多功能测量工具。将论证可行性，并开发结电极方法的力量，以期开拓未来的商业合作。主要目标是：(i)制造新颖和高灵敏度的传感器设备；（ii）改善结特性（间隙大小、表面粗糙度、材料、几何形状等）；（iii）在结过程中利用短寿命中间体的存在（在10 nm间隙系统中寿命可降至约30 ns）；（iv）在调制器-传感器模式下使用结电极（其中一个或多个“调制器”电极产生反应性中间体，如氢氧化物或其他反应性中间体，以协助“传感器”电极的敏感检测）；(v)提供可远程操作的低成本传感装置。项目目标为24小时运行，每分钟测量一次；（vi）根据量度环境中微量有机微污染物所需的既定分析标准，对仪器进行验证；（vii）将新研制的传感器在灵敏度和选择性方面的性能与配备Q-TOF的LC-MS系统进行比较，以进行精确的质量测量；（viii）利用遥感和LC-MS仪器在Avon河和当地的污水处理厂进行短期监测计划，以验证其在实时情况下的性能。