MEMS Sensor for Metal-Ion Detection in Water

Aquatic Life Ltd.专注于开发和设计远程真实的实时水质监测系统，专门用于饮用水，地表水，地下水，工业用水和废水。他们希望通过开发测量水中重金属离子的技术来扩大产品范围。用于测量水中金属化合物的两种公知方法是电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）和原子吸收光谱法（AAS）。然而，该设备体积庞大、耗电且昂贵。对于便携式现场测量，阳极溶出伏安法是常用的方法。然而，由于每次测量后电极都应处理，因此无法进行连续监测。因此，有必要开发一种能够精确、连续测定水中重金属离子的传感器。本课题将研究开发基于MEMS的传感器，该传感器基于金属离子的吸附，在机械共振或微结构应力的变化下进行检测。传感器将被设计用于测量铅和铜这两种主要的金属污染物。该项目将包括MEMS结构的有限元建模，探索金属离子吸附的候选涂层材料，以及它们对MEMS结构机械性能的影响。候选设计将被制造和测试。便携式和非一次性金属离子传感器的开发将使时间有效和成本效益的监测技术。更新Aquatic Life的金属离子检测设备将使Aquatic Life能够扩大其业务能力，并将使加拿大水资源的低成本持续监测技术成为可能。

Aquatic Life Ltd. is focused on the development and design of remote real time water quality monitoring systems specializing in Drinking Water, Surface Water, Ground Water, Industrial Water and Waste Water. They wish to expand their product offerings by developing technologies for measuring heavy metal ions inside water. Two well known methods for measuring metallic compounds in water are Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). However, the equipment is bulky, power consuming, and expensive. For portable on-site measurement, anodic stripping voltammetry is a common method used. However, continual monitoring is not available, since electrodes should be disposed of after each measurement. Therefore, there is need for a sensor capable of precise and continuous determination of heavy metal ions in water.This project will investigate and develop MEMS based sensors that undergo change in mechanical resonance or microstructure stress, based on adsorption of metal-ions. Sensors will be designed to measure lead and copper which are two major metal contaminations. The project will include finite element modelling of MEMS structures, exploring candidate coating materials for metal ion adsorption, and the their effect on the mechanical properties of the MEMS structures. Candidate designs will be fabricated and tested.The development of a portable and non-disposable metal ion sensor will enable time-effective and cost-effective monitoring techniques. Updating Aquatic Life's equipment with metal ion detection will enable Aquatic Life to expand its business capability, and will enable low cost continual monitoring techniques for Canadian water resources.