Autonomous Monitor for Toxic Gas Exposure

项目摘要 这个SBIR项目的总体目标是开发一种微型微法合成气体 用于自动、特定地监测有毒VOC(挥发性)的层析(微型GC)装置 有机化合物)在工作场所暴露。集成多个关键GC组件 集成到单个芯片是微型GC的关键区别。第一阶段研究的具体目标 包括新型微色谱柱原型制作、芯片上温度控制演示 以及整体式集成概念的证明。最终的产品将是即插即用的微型计算机 具有车载载气产生、采样和校准能力的GC。 许多化学和工业过程会导致VOCs的排放。一些VOCs有毒或 甚至会致癌，对工人的健康构成严重危害。因此，有一个紧急的 工作场所VOC暴露监测的必要性。现有的挥发性有机化合物评价方法 然而，暴露有很大的局限性。例如，比色检测管和 光电离传感器虽然部署简单，但缺乏特异性。传统的气相色谱仪器， 虽然提供高特异性和敏感性，但购买起来既笨重又昂贵， 操作和维护通常需要离线采样，因此不方便或成本- 对现场监控应用程序有效。目前，有一种严重的未得到满足的具体需求 以自主和持续的方式监测VOC暴露。拟议中的微观 GC将提供一个机会来满足这一要求。

Project Summary The overall goal of this SBIR project is to develop a miniature, microfarbicated gas chromatography (micro GC) device for autonomous, specific monitoring of toxic VOC (volatile organic compound) exposure in the workplace. Integration of multiple critical GC components into a single chip is the key differentiator of the micro GC. Specific aims of the Phase I study include prototyping of a novel microGC column, demonstration of on-chip temperature control, and proof of concept of monolithic integration. The final product will be a plug-and-play micro GC with capabilities of on-board carrier gas generation, sampling, and calibration. Many chemical and industrial processes cause emissions of VOCs. Some VOCs are toxic or even carcinogenic, posing a serious health hazard to workers. As a result, there is an urgent need for workplace VOC exposure monitoring. Existing methods for assessment of VOC exposure, however, have major limitations. For example, both colorimetric detection tubes and photoionization sensors, while simple to deploy, lack specificity. Conventional GC instruments, although providing high specificity and sensitivity, are bulky and expensive to purchase, operate, and maintain, typically require offline sampling, and are thus not convenient or cost- effective for on-site monitoring applications. Currently, there is a critical unmet need for specific monitoring of VOC exposure in an autonomous and continuous manner. The proposed micro GC will provide an opportunity to address this requirement.